Just stumbled across this concept video from Airbus. Interesting to say the least!!!

http://bcove.me/u45dor8y

Cheers!

A lot of fluff in that apart from the confirmation that even Airbus sees the BWB as the future of aircraft.
However, they are way behind right now for a number of reasons including:
- Composite body technology now lags behind Boeing
- Continued dependence on traditional pneumatic systems
- 'by-the-numbers' marketing/product development where they are dependent on making things bigger or reducing engine consumption (something that they must rely on suppliers for) - this is critical because it means that any efficiencies they make (i.e. A320neo ) are in products that their competitors could buy (i.e. PW1000 series will be featured in 320neo, Mits RJ and Bombardier Cseries)

Their recent announcement of another delay in the 350wxb program is a huge blow to Airbus now that the 787 is in its final stages of type and ETOPS certification.

Airbus is a one-trick pony...and having flown on multiple versions of Airbus and Boeing, I can tell you that the pony they use isn't particularly nice.

WASHINGTON: American Airlines on Wednesday announced multi-billion-dollar agreements to buy 460 single-aisle passenger jets in an order split between the US aerospace giant Boeing and European rival Airbus.

The airline described the deals for 200 Boeing 737s and 260 Airbus A320 jets, for planes to be delivered between 2013 and 2022, as the "largest aircraft order in history."

The split orders mark a major setback for Boeing because most of American Airlines's fleet is made up of jets built by the US aerospace giant.

The Fort Worth, Texas-based AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines, said the deals will allow the company "to replace and transform American's narrow body fleet over five years and solidify its fleet plan into the next decade.

"These new aircraft will allow American to reduce its operating and fuel costs and deliver state-of-the-art amenities to customers," the company said in a statement.

AMR chairman and chief executive Gerard Arpey said that with the purchase, his company expects to have "the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleet among our peers in the US industry within five years.

"This new fleet will dramatically improve our fuel and operating costs, while enhancing our financial flexibility," he said.

In a separate statement, Boeing confirmed American's agreement to buy 200 narrow body airplanes - including 100 Next-Generation 737s - with options for 100 more.

American Airlines's fleet currently has more than 600 Boeing airplanes, including 156 Next-Generation 737-800s, Boeing said.

The Next-Generation 737s are five percent more fuel efficient than the first of the models delivered in 1998, Boeing said.

Airbus, the France-based EADS unit, hailed the order as a "strong endorsement" of the company's single-aisle planes.

"We are extremely proud and gratified once again to count American Airlines among Airbus's global customers," Airbus president and chief executive Tom Enders said in a separate statement.

- AFP/al

from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world_business/view/1142056/1/.html

Unfortunately very boring in that there are no new aircraft involved.
It's become more about pricepoint (it's a lot cheaper to buy an old airframe with new engines).

Also, having been on an A320, it's not exactly exciting news to me.
Congrats to both though.