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The article reports that Airbus Industrie SA is working on the engine and other details related to its A350XWB aircraft. Airbus has basically abandoned its previous strategy of keeping development cost down, adopting a completely new design that will demand an investment of $10 billion and wholly new tooling. Further, Airbus has decided to continue using a mix of advanced alloys and composites. Those materials will make up 62% of the aircraft, giving the A350 a lower empty weight per seat than the 787 or 777. Airbus will also have recourse to reimbursable loans.

The article reports that as Airbus Industrie SA glows with the first flight success of its impressively big A380, the fuel-efficiency and technology campaigns Boeing Co. has mounted for its mid-sized jet families are scoring impressive sales. Most attention is paid to the differences in size between their new wide-body aircraft. Both are committed to pushing new passenger conveniences, greater use of electrical systems and advanced aerodynamics. But Boeing has spent the past year emphasizing that improved engines, a lighter composite fuselage and wing and more fuel-efficient electrical systems will make the 787 20% more fuel-efficient than current-generation aircraft. Airbus has taken a more cautious approach, especially on whether composite technology is mature enough for fuselage