Airbus News

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France awards Airbus and Thales a €1.5 billion-plus contract for two IRIS military observation satellites

The DGA has selected Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space to develop two high-resolution military Earth-observation satellites and their ground systems. The contract, valued at more than €1.5 billion, is intended to prepare the successor capability to France’s current CSO satellite system.

AeroTime

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Emirates secures 12-year Shariah-compliant French lease financing for two A350-900s due in 2026

Emirates has completed a financing arrangement with Dubai Islamic Bank and Natixis CIB for two new Airbus A350-900s. The 12-year Shariah-compliant French lease combines two financing frameworks, which the airline describes as a repeatable blueprint for future cross-border aircraft financings.

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

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Airbus A350-1000ULR sets commercial-airliner distance record as Qantas prepares Project Sunrise

The A350-1000ULR flew 12,503 nautical miles nonstop on a 24-hour test flight from Melbourne to Toulouse, setting a Guinness World Record for distance by a commercial airliner. Qantas plans to use the type for Project Sunrise; from its October 2027 launch, flights QF1 and QF2 are set to become nonstop Sydney–London services, replacing the current Singapore stop.

Bloomberg

EIB says US has no grounds to challenge €3 billion Airbus loan

The European Investment Bank’s head rejected US government criticism of its €3 billion ($3.4 billion) loan to Airbus, saying the administration has no grounds to question the arrangement. The dispute puts a major European public-financing deal for the aircraft maker at the center of transatlantic scrutiny.

AeroTime

Airbus launches €5 billion share buyback with first €800 million tranche

AeroTime

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Airbus launches first €800 million tranche of planned €5 billion share buyback

Airbus has started a planned three-year buyback of up to €5 billion ($5.6 billion), beginning with a tranche of up to €800 million running from Nov. 9 to Dec. 23. The company says it will cancel shares repurchased, rather than use them for employee plans as in previous buybacks.

ch-aviation

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A350-1000 ULR sets 12,503-nm nonstop record as Philippine Airlines finalizes order for nine more

An Airbus A350-1000 ULR test aircraft flew 12,503 nautical miles nonstop in 24 hours and 24 minutes, surpassing the previous commercial-aircraft distance record set by a Boeing 777-200LR in 2005. Separately, Philippine Airlines finalized contracts for nine additional A350-1000s, including Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines and TotalCare support.

Air Data News

Air France takes its 60th A220-300, completing its 2019 order five years after entry into service

The delivery brings Air France’s A220-300 fleet to 60, fulfilling the order it placed in 2019 and giving the French carrier one of the world’s largest fleets of the type. The airline has introduced the aircraft over five years while continuing to operate the A318.