Boeing Vs Airbus

316 Words2 Pages
In the decade between 1999 and 2008 Airbus received 6,378 orders, while Boeing received 6,140. Although Airbus had higher deliveries since 2003, it had only 3606 deliveries from 1999 to 2008, while Boeing had 4089. The competition is intense, and each company regularly accuses the other of receiving unfair state aid from their respective governments. Like Boeing, Airbus parent EADS has a defense business, but it is a far smaller proportion of revenue and not as profitable. Recent military programs, notably the A400M military transport, have been a drain on company resources. The outlook for this side of EADS business is unpromising, although it might still win a share of the controversial $40 billion U.S. Air Force tanker contact. Boeing has used the WTO's ruling against Airbus to strengthen its lobbying campaign in Congress against EADS participation in the tanker deal. However, legislative action to block the EADS bid might have a damaging impact on U.S.-European defense relations. A preliminary WTO ruling on a U.S. complaint against Airbus declared part of $4.3 billion in repayable E.U. state 'launch aid' for development of the A380 airliner illegal, according to media reports on Sept. 4 and 5. The WTO has been considering competing trade claims from U.S. Boeing and E.U. Airbus since 2004, but the dispute has simmered for decades. The WTO was brought in following U.S. abrogation of a 1992 bilateral deal that limited direct and indirect aid to civil aircraft development. Washington claims European governments provided $200 billion in direct subsidies to various Airbus projects. Brussels' counter-claim argues that the U.S. has provided $24 billion in indirect state government aid and cross-subsidies. The commercial impact of these cases will eventually be considerable, albeit delayed over several years.
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