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.

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 made.

The Singapore Airlines 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 plane arrived after a flight of more than 12 hours from the headquarters of European manufacturer Airbus.

PARIS, France, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - European aerospace group EADS, whose Airbus unit has been battered by delays in its A380 superjumbo, said Wednesday that delivery of its A400M military transport plane would be delayed by at least six months.

Delivery of the first A400Ms to the French airforce will be moved back for technical reasons until early 2010, with an 'additional risk of a further slip of six months,' the group said in a statement.

EADS acknowledged at the beginning of the year that there were delays on the assembly line and on the date of the first flight.

SINGAPORE, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - Ten facts about the Airbus A380 superjumbo:

- The double-decker A380 measures 73 metres (239 feet) in length, or about 80 percent of the smallest international football field

- The wing area is 845 square metres (9,092 square feet), enough to park 72 medium-sized cars on each wing

- It has 50-percent more floor space than the next biggest aircraft, the Boeing 747 jumbo, which can carry about 400 passengers

- It can carry 853 passengers in an all-economy configuration

SINGAPORE, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - The Airbus A380 superjumbo was set to land on Singapore on Wednesday as the countdown began for next week's maiden commercial flight of the biggest passenger airliner ever made.

Decked out in the blue and gold of launch customer Singapore Airlines, the A380 was en route from France, where Airbus officials finally saw off the giant plane after 18 months of delays and billions of dollars in cost over-runs.

TOULOUSE, France, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - Airbus on Monday made the first delivery of its A380, the world's biggest passenger jet, handing it over to Singapore Airlines 18 months behind schedule but with both sides hailing a major advance in air travel.

The 73-metre-long (239-feet) superjumbo was handed over in a ceremony at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse in southern France, with Singapore Airlines also revealing its 'new standard' in first-class cabin design.

TOULOUSE, France, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - The head of Airbus parent group EADS, Louis Gallois, stuck to the A380s delivery schedule for next year on Monday despite rumours of new production problems.

Airbus celebrated the first delivery of the first jet on Monday to launch client Singapore Airlines, 18 months later than expected after a series of manufacturing difficulties.

Gallois repeated the group's delivery target for next year and beyond.

TOULOUSE, France, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - Airbus on Monday delivered the first of its A380s, the world's biggest passenger jet, to Singapore Airlines, 18 months behind schedule but with both sides hailing the major advance in air travel.

The 73-metre-long (239-feet) superjumbo was handed over in a ceremony at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse in southern France.

Thomas Enders, chief executive of Airbus, said: 'We are obviously extremely proud to deliver the first A380 to Singapore Airlines, but this is the latest milestone in a long journey.'

FRANKFURT, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - Potential buyers are crowding around an Airbus plant in Laupheim, southern Germany, and the European plane maker should decide this year which will get the site, a press report said Monday.

The Financial Times Deutschland cited industry sources as saying 14 German and foreign concerns had expressed interest in the facility, which produces cabin equipment.

TOULOUSE, France, Oct 15, 2007 (AFP) - Airbus was to make the first delivery of its A380 superjumbo jet on Monday to Singapore Airlines, with elation and relief expected at a ceremony in southern France to mark the occasion.

The heads of both companies were expected to hail a major advance in air travel as the A380, the world's biggest passenger plane, finally leaves the company's factory in Toulouse after a difficult birth.

PARIS, Oct 14, 2007 (AFP) - Airbus delivers its first A380 superjumbo jet on Monday, but beyond the hype about the size of the world's biggest passenger jet some analysts doubt that the aircraft will ever make money.

A sense of euphoria is expected at Airbus headquarters in southern France on Monday as the first doubledecker is delivered to launch client Singapore Airlines at a ceremony attended by 500 guests and the world's media.

BERLIN, Oct 13, 2007 (AFP) - Airbus head Thomas Enders acknowledged in an interview to be published Monday that the delay-plagued European plane maker would continue having difficulty meeting future delivery deadlines for its A380 jetliner.

PARIS, Oct 12, 2007 (AFP) - Key dates in the production of the giant A380 airliner and its creator, Airbus:

- Dec 19: Airbus shareholders give green light to build the world's largest airliner, to be codenamed the A380.

- June 15: Emirates boosts orders of the new model to 43, becoming its biggest customer.

- Jan 18: The A380 is unveiled in a high-profile launch in Toulouse.

- April 27: First test flight from Toulouse.

- May 4: Airbus tells launch customer Singapore Airlines of delays, pushing back delivery to the second half of 2006.

PARIS, Oct 12, 2007 (AFP) - Singapore Airlines, an icon as one of the industry's most profitable carriers and launch customer for the Airbus 380 superjumbo, finally gets its hands on one of the massive jets next week.

The A380 has been delayed for 18 months by production problems but SIA, famous for its 'Singapore Girl' branding, has stuck with its order through thick and thin at Airbus to offer its first flight on October 25 to Sydney.

PARIS, Oct 12, 2007 (AFP) - Airbus will next week hand Singapore Airlines the first completed A380, the world's biggest passenger jet, 18 months later than expected but to the widespread relief of the European aerospace industry.

The giant plane, one of the most exciting new airliners in nearly 40 years, is to be delivered to the carrier on Monday before entering service on a Singapore-Sydney route 10 days later.

MADRID, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - Airbus was flying high Thursday after the European planemaker received a huge order just days before the first delivery of its superjumbo A380 and as archrival Boeing announced delays on its highly touted 787 Dreamliner programme.

Airbus signed a deal on Thursday to sell 61 aircraft, including four A380s, to Spanish travel group Marsans, which owns Aerolineas Argentinas and the Madrid-based Air Comet, Marsans said.

MADRID, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - Spanish travel group Marsans has placed an order worth 7.0 billion dollars (almost 5.0 billion euros) for 73 Airbus aircraft, including four A380s, the world's largest passenger plane, Marsans said Thursday.

Marsans owns Aerolineas Argentinas and the Madrid-based Air Comet.

A company spokesman said the firm order comprised four A380s, 10 A350s, 42 A320s, five A330s, plus 12 A330s previously ordered in December 2006. The planes will be operational between 2008 and 2014.

MADRID, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - Spanish travel group Marsans has ordered 72 Airbus aircraft, including four A380s, the world's largest passenger plane, sources close to the company said Thursday.

They did not indicate the value of the order, but the Internet edition of the ABC newspaper said it was more than 2.2 billion euros (3.1 billion dollars).

Marsans owns Aerolineas Argentinas and the Madrid-based Air Comet.

MANILA, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - Airbus' extra-large A380 jetliner flew into the Philippines on a test flight Thursday to show it can be flown to existing runways in Asia, company officials said.

The A380 flew from Melbourne to the Manila international airport, landing smoothly with room to spare and taxiing to a parking area without a hitch despite its larger size.

'The landing had no troubles at all, absolutely no problem,' said test pilot Peter Chandler at a press conference afterward.

PARIS, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - Shares in European aerospace manufacturer EADS rose on Thursday after its competitor Boeing announced delays in deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner jets.

In midmorning trade EADS shares had jumped 1.97 percent to 23.35 euros, while the overall Paris CAC 40 rose 0.31 percent.

On Wednesday Boeing announced a six-month delay for the new jet seen as the future profit driver for the US aviation giant.

The announcement followed delays to Airbus' competitor to the Dreamliner, the Airbus A380.

PARIS, Oct 10, 2007 (AFP) - Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air has ordered 50 short-haul Airbus A320 aircraft with a total catalogue price of 3.65 billion dollars (2.86 billion euros), the European plane manufacturer said Wednesday.

'This contract is the largest ever in central and eastern Europe for a single type of aircraft,' Airbus said in a statement.

Airbus has received more than 5,400 orders for the A320 since the single-aisle aircraft entered service in 1988.

SINGAPORE, Oct 10, 2007 (AFP) - Singapore low-cost carrier Tiger Airways has signed a contract to buy 30 Airbus A320s, with 20 more on option, the European aircraft manufacturer said.

The signing confirms a letter of intent signed in June for the purchase of the planes worth a catalogue price of 2.2 billion US dollars (1.56 billion euros).

PARIS, Oct 9, 2007 (AFP) - European aircraft manufacturer Airbus said Tuesday it had received 854 plane orders to the end of September, a total eclipsed by US rival rival Boeing which has announced 893 for the first nine months of the year.

Most of the Airbus orders -- 525 -- were for medium-haul carriers in the A320 family, followed by 320 orders for long-haul aircraft, notably the A350 XWB, which is to enter service in 2013.

There were nine orders for the A380 superjumbo, the world's largest commercial airliner, according to Airbus.

PARIS, Oct 5, 2007 (AFP) - The man at the center of a brewing political scandal over alleged insider trading at European aerospace giant EADS told a Senate committee Friday the government was 'beyond reproach' in the affair.

Former finance minister Thierry Breton said he was 'shocked' by suggestions that the government had a hand in the reported illegal sale of millions of euros in shares by top EADS executives and two corporate shareholders just before they announced big problems at its subsidiary Airbus.

PARIS, Oct 5, 2007 (AFP) - Thomas Enders, the newly installed chief executive of Airbus, has denied insider trading in shares of the planemaker's parent company EADS, according to an internal memo seen Friday by AFP.

'To be clear with you all, I never committed any insider trading and I have not been accused of insider trading by anyone, inlcuding by the the (French) Financial Markets Authority (AMF),' he wrote in the memo addressed to all Airbus staff.

'I categorically reject the allegations and insinuations in the press,' Enders said.

PARIS, Oct 5, 2007 (AFP) - US Airways has confirmed an agreement signed at the Paris Air Show in June to buy 92 aircraft from Airbus, the European planemaker said Friday.

The order includes 22 of Airbus's newest aircraft family, the A350 XWB, 10 A330-200s and 60 of the A320 series.

The A330s will be delivered from 2009 to 2010.

The newly ordered A320s will be added to US Airways' existing Airbus single-aisle aircraft orders, extending delivery to 2012, Airbus said.