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Presents information on the emphasis the consortium of Airbus Industrie and their European partners place on information technology in their airplane design and manufacture. The formation of the Airbus Concurrent Engineering (ACE) team to rethink how they design, manufacture and support their aircraft; Their goal to reduce development costs and time-to-market for a new product; Discussion of specific design improvements for the A340.

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 Boeing Co. is filling a seating gap in its single-aisle lineup and renewing the challenge to the Airbus A321 airplane with the launch of the 737-900ER airplane, which offers airlines the choice of carrying 26 more passengers or flying another 500 nautical miles. The new airplane was launched with the formal signing of an order for 60 aircrafts from Lion Air. The aircraft will include a standard Type 2 door measuring 24 X 52 inches, located on the left side of the fuselage behind the wing.

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

Reports that aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. intends to cede the large aircraft launch market to its competitor Airbus over the next decade as it focuses on its 7E7 range designed to fill the middle-of-the-market segment and define the aircraft's configuration during the next six months. Origins of Boeing's 7E7 program from the Sonic Cruiser program; Market envisioned by Boeing for middle-of-the-range aircraft.

The article examines the layout and construction of an aircraft factory in Mobile, Alabama by aerospace industries firm Airbus SAS for final assembly of its Airbus A320 jet transport. The resemblance of the factory's layout to that of Airbus's A320 assembly facilities in Tianjin, China and Hamburg, Germany is discussed. The U.S. supply chain for A320 production is considered.

The article discusses the aircraft manufacturer Boeing, reporting on a backlog of orders that may sustain the company through economic downturns in 2013. Topics include chairman of Boeing James McNerney, the production schedule and manufacturing of planes including the 737 MAX aircraft, and competition from the manufacturer Airbus.

The article discusses the single-aisle commercial airliner market and uncertainty regarding its future. Airliner leasing is discussed and prospective actions to be taken by single-aisle airplane manufacturers Boeing and Airbus are contemplated. Industry experts cited include Air Lease Corp. chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) Steven Udvar-Hazy and Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO James Albaugh.

The article discusses the development of single-aisle airplanes including the Airbus A320NEO (New Engine Option) and aircraft made by smaller corporations such as the Bombardier CSeries, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) C919, and the Irkut MS-21. Potential engines for the A320NEO are the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G geared turbofan and the CFM International LEAP-X, while potential nacelle suppliers are aerospace companies Goodrich and Nexcelle.