boeing and airbus
Airbus and Boeing
Vocabulary
| air | previous | model (3) |
| rival | concede | in terms of |
| pill | stretch | a bitter pill to swallow (2) |
| offer | version | midrange |
| bitter | order (3) | desperate |
| fuel | demand | on the bright side |
| wing | excite | down year |
| tip (3) | swallow | order books |
| fuel | delivery | pick up (3) |
| fail | expect | have their work cut out |
Video: Airbus versus Boeing
Transcript
Airbus has seen better days, for example at the Paris Air Show two years ago.
It’s a similar story for Boeing. Orders dropped this year, but less so than for its European rival.
John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer: “Is this a slower show than in previous years? Yes, it is.
Are we conceding that Boeing sold a few more airplanes than we did? Yes, we’ve got 42% of the market, at the air show for the last three days, and they’ve got the rest.”
A bitter pill to swallow.
But the American plane maker simply has the better offer at the moment. Its midrange 737 is as popular as ever, especially the new Max-10 stretched version.
Not so popular, the Jumbo Jets, both the Boeing 747 and the Airbus A380. And that’s the model Airbus was desperate to sell this year.
But despite more seats and fuel-saving wing tips, the new A380 Plus failed to excite customers.
On the bright side, the company order books are still full, with increased production expected in the coming years.
John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer: “I think this will be a down year for Airbus and Boeing in terms of orders — but not in deliveries. Production will be increasing through 17, 18, 19, and 20.”
The two rivals have their work cut out for them.
And if fuel costs remain low, both are hoping that demand will soon pick up again.
Questions
1. In this video, what happened in Paris?
2. Business has increased since 2015 for Boeing and Airbus. True or false?
3. Which company is more profitable? Who has the larger market share?
4. Jumbo jets, with more seats and better fuel efficiency, sell better than mid-sized airplanes. Is this right or wrong?
5. At the moment, are all aircraft manufacturing operations busy or idle?
6. In the future, will Airbus and Boeing be hiring more workers or laying off existing ones?
7. What is one factor in the aircraft market?
A. Are there many airlines in your country? Which are the biggest?
B. More people are traveling by air. Yes or no?
C. Is there a domestic aeronautics industry?
D. Have you seen an air show?
E. When we were kids, my friends wanted to become an airplane pilot. Yes or no?
F. What will happen in the future?
