Recent weeks have also seen renewed hostilities over funding for the development of Airbus's new super-jumbo jet, the A3XX .

ECONOMIST: Trade

Airbus says it is confident that there is enough interest the launch the A3XX, with four airlines (Air France, Emirates Air, Singapore Airlines, and leasing firm ILFC) already committed to firm orders and several others (believed to include Virgin Atlantic and Qantas) discussing terms.

BBC: Development of the A3xx would be expensive