Andrew Doyle / Tokyo Airbus fails in efforts to break potential programme partners' close ties with Boeing
Japan's major aerospace manufacturers are poised to reject an Airbus offer of an 8% full risk-sharing stake in the $10.7 billion A380 programme in favour of safeguarding their close ties with Boeing.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has told Flight International it will not risk-share in the European ultra-large aircraft project, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) is all but ruling out taking a stake. The third candidate, Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), also plans to decline the offer, according to industry sources.
However, the three companies are interested in taking on substantial A380 subcontract work and are discussing how to structure their participation with Airbus.
"Our relationship with Boeing is a good one, and therefore when it comes to being a risk-sharing partner in the A380 we cannot participate at the moment," says MHI civil aircraft general manager Masakazu Niwa. "We want to see if there is a way to strike a balance and have a satisfactory contract with Airbus without sacrificing our relationship with Boeing," he adds.
KHI commercial aircraft manager Takuji Hamaguchi will not comment on A380 risk-sharing, but says the company is interested in A380 subcontract work. He adds: "The bottom line is to respect our relationship with Boeing."
Failure by Airbus to offload a significant full risk-sharing stake in the A380 in Japan will be a setback for the European manufacturer, which is struggling to attract major partners for the project. It will also come as a relief to Boeing, which has voiced concerns about the prospect of deeper ties between Airbus and Japanese industry.
However, MHI, KHI and FHI, which between them have a 15% stake in the 767 programme and 21% of the 777, aim to take on more Airbus work following the European manufacturer's success in growing its global market share.
FHI is a candidate to produce the A380 aircraft's composite centre wing box, while MHI and KHI are likely to be interested in supplying parts of the fuselage and wing trailing edge, say industry sources.
Separately, Japan's aerospace manufacturers plan to meet during the next few weeks to discuss participation in Boeing's sonic cruiser programme.
Source: Flight International
