Airbus is backing up its order success at the show with parallel progress on the site sales and partnerships it is targeting as part of the Power8 restructuring plan it formulated in response to A380 delays and exchange rate fluctuations.

Toulouse-based Latécoère is hoping to increase its composites presence by bidding for a close partnership with Airbus's Méaulte site and the creation of a new composites factory there.

Latécoère confirms that it expects a decision from Airbus by the end of the third quarter.

Latécoère says the tie-up would propel it into the realms of a "super tier 1" supplier with a turnover of more than a �1 billion ($1.34 billion).

Airbus is in the process of setting out requirements for potential bidders and Latécoère would bid for Méaulte and St-Nazaire Ville together if Airbus offered the sites in combination, says François Junca, president of the company's supervisory board.

The Méaulte facility in northern France, which currently makes up a quarter of Airbus's centre of excellence for nose and centre fuselage, was identified as a site suitable for an industrial partnership to aid the transition from metallic to composite design and manufacturing technology, along with the UK's Filton and Germany's Nordenham.

The manufacturer declines to comment on whether Chinese aviation company AVIC I, or any other individual company, has expressed interest in bidding for six sites, but confirms: "Airbus is in discussion with several potential buyers and partners and hopes to make a decision in the coming months."

But analyst Richard Aboulafia of Teal Group sees AVIC as a "very unlikely bidder" for any of the sites: "The three most important qualities need from Airbus site bidders are a willingness to invest in new products, experience with large or complex aerostructures, and political approvability." Aboulafia adds that as a state-run firm with "vague ideas about privatisation" the company is likely to be undercapitalised, and its structures projects are relatively small. In addition, it is a "red flag to unions and politicians concerned about keeping jobs in-country".

Other candidates are remaining tight-lipped on their plans. The UK's GKN Aerospace, widely tipped to be the new owner of Airbus's Filton site, says only that it is "watching what's going on and waiting on developments from Airbus".

Some potential candidates have ruled themselves out of the running. US-based Vought Aircraft Industries and Italy's Alenia Aeronautica, partners for the Boeing 787 programme, have both said they are not planning to bid. "We are studying how we can make the best use of our capabilities in composite materials," says Alenia chief executive Giovanni Bertolone. "We will not buy Airbus facilities or assets but we are available and open to possibilities," he adds.

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Source: Flight International

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