BERLIN, Oct 22, 2007 (AFP) - Germany's army will use its old military planes for longer and borrow some while waiting for the delayed delivery of Airbus' A400M military transport, a defence ministry spokesman said on Monday.

Airbus' parent company EADS said last week that delivery of the A400M would be delayed by at least six months, possibly even longer. Delivery of the new plane was initially scheduled for 2009.

HANOI, Oct 19, 2007 (AFP) - Vietnam's government ordered the state-run airline to finalise contracts before the end of the year with Airbus and Boeing to buy aircraft with a total catalogue price of nearly six billion dollars.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also gave the go-ahead for Vietnam Airlines to part-privatise, to boost its fleet to 107 planes by 2020, and to re-develop its subsidiary airline, said a statement on the official government website.

WASHINGTON, Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) - The United States and European Union should abandon their costly WTO feud over aircraft subsidies and negotiate a new trade pact, Airbus's US chief said Thursday.

Allan McArtor, chairman of Airbus North America, also accused US rival Boeing of using 'offensive and totally inappropriate' tactics in a bid to win a lucrative US Air Force tanker project.

CANNES, Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) - Dubai carrier Emirates expects to take delivery of its first Airbus A380 superjumbo in August next year and hopes to have it in service the following month, airline president Tim Clark said Thursday.

Clark said the A380, the first of 55 on order, 'will fly almost immediately, in September, if we get it in August.'

The airline will get four or five more of the aircraft next year, he added.

WASHINGTON, Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) - The United States and European Union should abandon their costly WTO feud over aircraft subsidies and negotiate a new trade pact, Airbus's US chief said Thursday.

Allan McArtor, chairman of Airbus North America, also accused US rival Boeing of using 'offensive and totally inappropriate' tactics in a bid to win a lucrative US Air Force tanker project.

MADRID, Oct 18, 2007 (AFP) - Spain's struggling low-cost airline Vueling is open to talks on a takeover or merger, its US chairwoman Barbara Cassani told a Spanish newspaper published Thursday.

Vueling is 'ready to talk with any investor interested in buying the company, who wants to forge a partnership or merge,' Cassani told the Cinco Dias business daily.

SINGAPORE, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - The first Airbus A380 superjumbo landed in Singapore on Wednesday, as the countdown began for next week's maiden commercial flight of the biggest passenger airliner ever built.

The Singapore Airlines (SIA) jet touched down at 1040 GMT -- 10 minutes late -- at Changi Airport, where hundreds of guests in business suits toasted its arrival with champagne.

The A380 arrived from France, where Airbus officials finally saw off the giant plane after 18 months of delays and billions of dollars in cost overruns.

SINGAPORE, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - When they finally saw the giant plane, they gasped.

Hundreds of guests including foreign diplomats gathered in a cavernous glass-walled hall at a new Singapore airport terminal Wednesday night to welcome Singapore Airlines' first A380 superjumbo jet with a lavish reception.

They heard the massive jet before they saw it.

PARIS, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - Airbus euphoria over finally delivering its A380 superjumbo was dampened Wednesday by news the European planemaker's new A400M military transport plane will be delayed by at least six months.

Delivery of the first A400Ms to the French airforce will be moved back because of problems with its engines until early 2010, with an 'additional risk of further slippage of six months,' said EADS, the Airbus parent company.

SINGAPORE, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - The first Airbus A380 superjumbo landed in Singapore on Wednesday, as the countdown began for next week's maiden commercial flight of the biggest passenger airliner ever built.

The Singapore Airlines (SIA) jet touched down at 1040 GMT -- 10 minutes late -- at Changi Airport, where hundreds of guests in business suits gathered for a champagne reception to welcome it.

The A380 arrived from France where Airbus officials finally saw off the giant plane after 18 months of delays and billions of dollars in cost overruns.