Airbus Industrie

China froze new aircraft orders and its airlines are delaying deliveries as a slowing economy and overcapacity crimp demand in what may one day be the world's largest aviation market. The ban on orders and the delays could hurt sales in China of Boeing Co. and Airbus Industrie. Both companies view China as potentially the biggest market for new aircraft outside North America during the next two decades. Most of China's major airlines reported losses in the first half of the year.

In an apparent boon to U.S. aircraft firms, the United States and the European Community signed an agreement Friday limiting government subsidies and other aid to makers of commercial airliners designed to carry more than 100 passengers. The accord will take effect immediately for both the huge, four-nation European consortium that builds the Airbus and two U.S. firms, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas.

In an international alliance that could recast the aerospace industry, Boeing Co. and Germany's Deutsche Aerospace are discussing the possible joint production of a new super-jumbo airliner that would carry 550 to 800 passengers. The talks are part of a wide range of discussions among the world's leading commercial aerospace companies, including McDonnell Douglas Corp., several major Japanese manufacturers and other European firms.

The governing board of Airbus Industrie may vote as early as next week to begin making the world's largest passenger plane, launching its boldest challenge yet to Boeing Co.'s stranglehold on large commercial aircraft. Virgin Atlantic Airways said Friday that it is ordering six of the new 550-passenger planes for $3.8 billion, which Airbus officials said provided the minimum number they require to begin production of the next-generation super-jumbo jet.

U.S. aircraft giants Boeing Co. and McDonnell Douglas Corp., touting their planes at Britain's Farnborough International Air Show, Monday announced orders for more than 75 new jetliners valued at $8.5 billion. At the same time, Minneapolis-based NWA Inc., the parent of Northwest Airlines, said it has converted options on 75 A320 aircraft from the U.S. plane makers' European competitor, Airbus Industrie, into firm orders and had taken new options on 30 A321 aircraft in a deal worth $4.6 billion.

Airbus Industrie announced today it has received an order for four A300-600R jets from Japan Fleet Service-Singapore, a leasing company based in Singapore.