Aircraft manufacturer consolidation on the horizon

Tom Enders, Airbus CEO, yesterday lashed out at the “absurdity” of the now six-year-old WTO battle between the European Union and the USA over funding for their respective domestic aircraft manufacturers, saying that the only winners in the end will be aircraft manufacturers in China and Russia. Enders went on to confirm that both sides in the argument had taken state aid and therefore is it of no surprise that the WTO found that both were as guilty as each other. “Let’s be honest about it, the simple truth is, in the aerospace or aeronautic business, none of us, none