Airbus Decries Boeing Information Demand

Airbus Industrie said rival Boeing Co. is making the European consortium a scapegoat for the U.S. company’s own operational problems by requesting details of its restructuring and business plans. The French company was responding to a Financial Times report that said the U.S. government would ask the European Commission for details of Airbus’ restructuring plans and of two new aircraft programs: extensions of the A340 and a planned giant airliner. The report said the demands, expected to be made by U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky to EU Trade Commissioner Leon Brittan, reflected growing pressure from Seattle-based Boeing and its supporters in Congress. The demands are being made under a 1992 bilateral treaty between the European Union and the U.S. regulating government aid for the civil aircraft industry, it said. The treaty says government aid for commercial aircraft must not exceed 33% of research and development costs and caps indirect support at about 3% of annual sales.