Jetrader - Spring 2016 - 13

I have not just grown
up in this industry, I
have grown up with
it. And I think that
fortunate timing
has given me a great
perspective on what the
commercial aviation
world needed at the
moment and what it
needs in the future.
a new audience for commercial air travel.
Today the middle class in emerging economies is some 2 billion people. In 20 years,
that number will grow to 4 billion. That
growth is a true game changer for our
industry. In 1970, flying was an unattainable dream for 99 percent of the world's
population. Now everyone can fly.
JT: The A320neo hit the skies in January
as it entered commercial services with
launch customer, Lufthansa. Do you have
initial feedback from the airline?
JL: Lufthansa has its first A320neo.
We look forward to hearing the reviews of
the first commercial passengers and have
no doubt they will meet and exceed the
already stellar impression the A320 Family
makes around the globe. The A320neo
Family offers all the interior comfort and
flexibility our customers have come to love,
but topped off with technological advantages that allow it to offer unbeatable fuel
efficiency and significant environmental
benefits. Those are possible due to the
latest engine technologies, Sharklets and
cabin innovations - all of which combine
to offer the lowest operating costs of any
single aisle aircraft. You may be able to tell
I'm quite proud of this newest innovation
of ours...
JT: What are the impacts of the new
engine designs for the A320neo and the
performance of those engines versus
expectations?
JL: The efficiencies these new engines
bring over competing aircraft are proving

Wizz Air's Memorandum of Understanding signed at the 2015 Paris Air Show marked the largest
single order for Airbus' popular A321neo. Marking the agreement from left to right are: Airbus
President and CEO Fabrice Brégier, Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi and Airbus COO - Customers
John Leahy.

to be all we anticipated. In addition, for
the passenger's comfort, they are enjoying
a significantly quieter ride. It's a remarkable aircraft.
JT: How will the low price of oil affect
airlines' decision to invest in NextGen
aircraft?
JL: Each evolution of our aircraft brings
greater fuel efficiencies, and right now, the
combined benefit of that optimization is
further enhanced by the affordability of oil.
Today's fuel costs have the market excited,
as they feed directly into the profitability
of airlines worldwide. That cost savings
for our customers and potential customers
boosts their ability to buy more aircraft,
more fuel-efficient aircraft, multiplying
their savings even more. We all know that
oil prices are volatile, so we must proceed
with our market forecasts and product
developments realistically.
JT: Do you expect any revolutionary
designs in the next 10 to 20 years, e.g.,
open rotors, lifting body?
JL: Our focus will continue to be producing aircraft that are more fuel-efficient,
cleaner, quieter, more comfortable and able
to carry a larger number of passengers to
ease congestion. And we want to do all of
these things faster. Speed is key. This is what
our customers demand today, and they will

certainly demand them in the future. The
NEO philosophy has enabled technology to
come to the market quickly. But the next big
step in single-aisle efficiency will most likely
come from open rotors, and that technology
will not be available before 2030.
We also realize the criticality of digitalization and continue to find places where
it will benefit efficiencies throughout our
aircraft. To remain on the cutting edge, we
have opened BizLabs, our development centers for innovation, in Toulouse, Hamburg
and Bangalore, as well as a business innovation center in Silicon Valley. We are among
the manufacturers studying the benefits
and realities of developments like electric
engines and longer and slimmer wings, both
of which promise to reduce aerodynamic
drag and improve fuel efficiency.
JT: Airbus delivered a new record of 635
aircraft for 85 customers in 2015, surpassing the previous year-end delivery
record of 629 aircraft that was set in
2014. What can you tell us about Airbus'
plans for production levels in the year
ahead and whether or not concerns about
a capacity glut are unfounded?
JL: We will up our single-aisle production
to 60 per month by mid-2019, and will also
grow production of our widebodies. This is
not wild ambition; this is merely to keep up
with demand. We currently have a nine-year
Jetrader * Spring 2016 13

Jetrader - Spring 2016

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