Airbus Industrie, the European passenger aircraft manufacturer, is planning to improve security features in its aircraft currently in service with various global airlines, in order to discourage hijacking attempts.
The steps being considered include reinforcement of stronger doors between the cockpit and the aircraft cabin, in addition to providing improved communication systems to the crew, for internal communication.
The national carriers, Air-India and Indian Airlines, will also benefit from the move, since over 60 per cent of their fleet consists of Airbus aircraft.
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While Indian Airlines has a strength of 34 A-320s in its fleet (including two leased aircraft), Air-India has A-310s and A-300s.
David Velupillai, regional manager (press relations) of Airbus, said, "The primary line of defence is to stop terrorists on the ground itself. We are, however, planning various improvements in the aircraft itself like reinforcement of stronger doors between the cockpit and the cabin, and enhancing communication among the crew members."
"These improvements will also be effected in aircraft that are already in use by various airlines," he added.
The initiative is a direct fallout of the recent attacks on the US. Commenting on the impact of the US attacks on Airbus, Velupillai said, "We have put a freeze on all new recruitments, except for certain cases where specialists are required to respond to a certain situation. No orders placed with us have been cancelled so far. However, we have reduced our production plans, and will deliver 320 aircraft this year, against 330 aircraft we had planned," Velupillai said.
Airbus has improved its marketshare to 62 per cent (bookings) this year to forge ahead of its lone competitor, Boeing Corporation, after five years of a see-saw battle to clinch ahead.
However, despite the US attacks, Airbus does not expect a fall in demand for its jumbo aircraft, the Airbus A-380, which has 67 firm orders, in addition to 54 options from various international airlines, he said. Deliveries of the A-380 are expected to begin from 2006.