Airbus says Boeing rivalry is back on as sales campaigns pick up

Airbus said its decades-old competition with Boeing is back on in earnest as the removal of coronavirus curbs revives international travel and unleashes a spate of jetliner order contests. The European firm said Thursday that the traditionally fierce rivalry has resumed as Boeing emerges from a two-year slump triggered by the grounding of its best-selling 737 Max. At the same time, it signaled a new challenge with the launch of a freighter designed to erode the US group’s lead in air cargo. “We see our competitor very willing to win campaigns, to ramp up production again,” CEO Guillaume Faury said. “At Airbus we enjoy that competition and we always try to bring the right products and services to our customers.” Airbus lifted its guidance for full-year earnings, cash flow and aircraft deliveries, a day after Boeing posted its first profit in almost two years. The figures confirm a strengthening aerospace recovery that’s set to gather further momentum with sales campaigns at Air France-KLM’s Dutch arm and UK discounter Jet2, both of them usually loyal Boeing customers. The new freighter, a version of the A350 passenger jet, is expected to enter service in 2025, Faury said on a media call, after the board granted approval for the project. <br/>