BUSINESS OPERATIONS

“In the end, all business operations can be reduced to three words: people,
product, and profits.” Lee Iacocca

KEY VOCABULARY

advertise
assemble
budget
commercialize
construct
contract
cooperate
coordinate
correspond
deliver
design
develop
disinvest
distribute
diversify
employ
expand
export
import
innovate
invent
manufacture
market
merge
negotiate
organize
package
patent
plan
promote
purchase
research
sell
outsource
supply
test
train
upgrade
venture
streamline
re-engineer
e-commerce
(EADS.COM)
Today, Airbus ranks as one of the world’s two leading aircraft manufacturers. The
company employs 57,000 people and produces a comprehensive range of
commercial aircraft renowned for their efficiency, innovation, economy and
safety. In recent years, Airbus has regularly delivered more aircraft than its
rival and has consistently booked at least half of all new orders. It has also
captured the imagination of the world with the A380 - the biggest airliner ever
built.

In 1965 Airbus designed the A300 wide-body two-engine commercial jetliner

and it became the world’s first twin-engine wide-body jet, going into service in
1974. It was followed in the early 1980s by the A310, then later that decade by
the single-aisle A320 – which would become one of the most successful
aircraft in history. The 1990s saw Airbus introduce its long range A330/A340
Family. In April, 2005, the A380’s first flight drew worldwide acclaim. Airbus
also plans to build the long-range twin-engine A350. XWB, due into service in
2013.

Airbus has successfully evolved into a major industrial force and Airbus is now
a global company. The four national entities which had previously formed the
Airbus consortium transferred their Airbus-related assets to the new company
and became shareholders in Airbus -- Airbus France, Airbus Deutschland and
Airbus Espana merging as the European Aeronautic Defence and Space
Company (EADS) with 80% shares and BAE Systems with 20%. In 2006,
following the sales of BAE Systems' shares, Airbus became an EADS
company.

Manufacturing, production and sub-assembly of parts for Airbus aircraft are

distributed around 16 sites in Europe, with final assembly in Toulouse and
Hamburg. There are also centres for engineering design, sales and support
in North America; and sales and customer support centers in Japan and China.
Airbus has a joint engineering centre in Russia with Kaskol.

Around the world Airbus operates five spare parts centres, 160 field sites,
three fully-fledged training centers in Toulouse, Miami and Beijing and one
A320 maintenance training center in Hamburg. Airbus has negotiated an
agreement with CAE to provide Airbus-approved training courses in many
more sites around the world.

Airbus has established a global network of more than 1,500 suppliers in over
30 countries, and the company fosters ties with industry in all the countries
where it is represented.
COMPANY ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE