Seven airlines agreed to buy 100 of the new A340 models before Airbus partners gave the go-ahead.

In the early 1990's, it talked to the major Airbus partners about building a new superjumbo to replace the 747, only to back away.

This plan has already alarmed the other Airbus partners.

Airbus partners employed the latest technology, some derived from the Concorde.

The Airbus partners say they seek agreement by the end of the year so that the single corporation can be operating by 1999.

Each of the Airbus partners makes an entire aircraft section, which must be transported to a central location for final assembly.

But in recent years Airbus partners have bid for project stakes.

"There is a window of opportunity that the Airbus partners have to keep one step ahead of Boeing," he said.

Consequently, the Airbus partners have relegated more work to suppliers and largely automated their own manufacturing.

Word went out to the Airbus partners that they would need to streamline.