We don’t usually write about things like this, but this is important. As of the time of this writing, Boeing is in trouble again. Stories of hubris and mismanagement are appearing all over the news. The latest was when a tire fell from – in this case – a 777 – and plummeted to the ground shattering cars and bursting through a fence in a parking lot below. And while this is an isolated case, it does make you stop and wonder about Boeing.
Even more alarming is that former Boeing employee John Barnett recently died of an apparent suicide, a coroner’s office says, during numerous probes into airline’s safety. And, when you think back to the Boeing MCAS disasters, where a flight stabilizing feature developed by Boeing that became notorious for its role in two fatal accidents of the 737 MAX in 2018 and 2019, killing all 346 passengers and crew among both flights, with no repercussions for Boeing, you have to wonder.
So what is going on with Boeing? Is it hubris? Is it incompetence? Or both? Something is not right. Eventually the truth will out. But, after that prelude we want to divert your attention to a more positive place: Airbus. For background, Airbus began as a consortium (a group) of aircraft makers called Airbus Industrie. Later, in 2001, it became a joint-stock company. It was owned by EADS (80%) and BAE Systems (20%). BAE sold its part of the company to EADS on 13 October 2006, so EADS now completely owns the company.
However, one of the key elements of Airbus’ success is that, from the outset, they had to work as a pan-European team. Tasks were parceled out to groups in France, Spain, Belgium, Germany and more. It was mission critical that they worked together as a hive mind. And this all-for-one and one-for-all approach has continued until this day. Watch the video below and learn about Airbus’s many technological advances. And if you’re keen, visit their museum in Toulouse, France, see below.
Our affiliate friends AirTransat primarily use Airbus jets. New, cutting-edge and safe. Click below to book.