As Boeing trumpets the early success of its Dreamliner program, the pressure on Airbus to counter its rival's offering continues to grow.ILFC Chairman and CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy, whose company ordered 12 A350s in November, surprised an audience at the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading conference in Orlando yesterday by calling on Airbus to abandon its current A350 design plans, which are based partially on the A330, and build an all-new aircraft with a new fuselage and new wing that can compete with the technologically advanced 787.

"Airbus is at a crossroads," Udvar-Hazy was reported as saying, adding that a commitment to redesign the A350 and perhaps overhaul its entire midsize widebody product line would cost Airbus $8-$10 billion and must be made by July's Farnborough Air Show. GE Commercial Aviation Services President and CEO Henry Hubschman said he agreed with Udvar-Hazy, according to press reports.

ILFC and GECAS are among those who have demonstrated a short-term commitment to the A350. ILFC placed its order at the Dubai Air Show (ATWOnline, Nov. 23, 2005), at which time Airbus had received orders for 155 aircraft from 11 customers. "The A350's innovative features combined with operational commonality with existing Airbus fleets. . .[make] it an attractive asset to invest in for the future. It complements our portfolio of Airbus aircraft in which the A330 and its single-aisle family are the cornerstones," Udvar-Hazy said at the time.

GECAS signed a letter of intent for 10 A350s in Paris last summer (ATWOnline, June 16, 2005). Hubschman said the lessor placed the order because of the "significant advantages of the aircraft" and added he expected "strong demand from different operators for an early slot." He noted at the time that he had some potential customers in mind and that GECAS had "no intention to commit to the 787."

Boeing's 787 program head, Mike Bair, told ATWOnline earlier this week that the airframer has 30 offers out to airlines for 500 Dreamliners on top of the 28 customers who already have committed to 386 aircraft.

The tide seems to have changed as the 787 claims market share. Industry sources have suggested that the GECAS and ILFC orders contain caveats requiring Airbus to meet certain order and customer milestones. Key launch customer Qatar Airways, which announced a commitment in Paris to order 60 A350 family aircraft (ATWOnline, June 14, 2005), still has not inked the deal and some suggest that its order is conditional on Emirates signing up as well.

Sources in London told ATWOnline yesterday that Udvar-Hazy's comments in Orlando may have been promoted by those within Airbus who desire an all-new aircraft to combat not only the Dreamliner but the 777, which eclipsed the A340 family last year. In January, Airbus CEO Gustav Humbert acknowledged to media Boeing's efforts in the widebody segment, but cautioned that while "we are not happy with the situation, we should not panic. One year does not make a trend."