Japan/Airbus order
Paris, October 7, 2013
I particularly welcome the $9.5-billion order for 31 A350s made by Japan Airlines (JAL) to Airbus. It is a success for the European aerospace industry and for our economic diplomacy.
This order is historic for the European aircraft manufacturer in a country where it has hitherto been absent in the long-haul sector. It comes a few months after the French President’s state visit to Japan in June 2013, which provided an opportunity to confirm the exceptional partnership initiated with that country.
It is part of the strengthening of Airbus’s presence in Asia, where air traffic is growing very fast. The Foreign Ministry will continue providing its support to our aircraft manufacturers’ campaigns in that part of the world, where they have recently experienced major successes: in Indonesia, ATR sold 35 aircraft to the airline Garuda at the beginning of October; in Vietnam a few days ago, Airbus signed a memorandum of understanding for 92 A320s./.
