Airbus Defends A380 and Dismiss C919 as Challenge

Airbus is sticking by its A380 as the plane has been pushed into the spotlight since an engine failure prompted a Qantas jet to make an emergency landing in Singapore.

The Australian airline has since grounded its entire fleet of A380s.

Meanwhile, Airbus and Boeing say they welcome competition from China's domestic aircraft manufactures.

CRI's Larry Chen has more from the Zhuhai air show.

Laurence Barron, President of Airbus China, defended the A380 superjumbo jet as its safety performance has been called into question.

"The Qantas A380 suffered from an uncontained engine failure, a fairly rare event, which also damaged the aircraft itself. The aircraft performed as expected and landed safely so no, there is nothing wrong with the A380."

Barron also says the engine issue will not affect next summer's scheduled delivery of the A380 to China Southern Airlines, the only domestic carrier to purchase the plane.

Meanwhile, Barron explains that the lack of orders for its A350 aircraft, which is under development, from Chinese carriers is due to the country's economic planning structure.

"The Chinese government, as you are well aware, works on a 5 year basis, and they are about to approve the 12th 5 year plan which runs from 2011 to 2015. The A350 deliveries that we can offer are now in the what will become the 13th planning period."

Eric Chen, Airbus China's Vice President, adds that the Chinese carriers' timid response to the A350 is due to its competing product, Boeing's 787.

"Several years ago, Chinese airlines ordered more than 60 Boeing 787's and for various reasons, airlines lack this kind of courage and determination to be a launching customer for a new program again. In other words, we are paying the bill for our rivals' dilemma and consequences."

Airbus' China chief also dismissed the notion that the 168-seater C919 aircraft from Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, or COMAC, posses as a "challenge" as it enters the market in 2016.

"I don't really understand the world 'challenge'. Our industry is challenging. There are lots of challenges but this is not a challenge, this is a competitor. The C919 is a competitor. We were born into competition 40 years ago and now we're number one so frankly, competition, I think we're used to it. Where is the big deal?"

Beverly Wyse, Vice President of Boeing's 737 program, says Boeing is open to work with C919's manufacture.

"We see COMAC in part a competitor, in part they maybe as a partner in some products in the future."

Four Chinese airlines and two aircraft leasing companies have signed agreements to purchase 100 C919's as launching costumers.

For CRI, I'm Larry Chen, reporting from the Zhuhai air show.