Reutrers reported last week that Airbus is bidding to outsource half of the basic skeleton for the A350. The A350 is Airbus’s answer to the 787 Dreamliner and it, as well as its attempts to improve the less than successful A340, have suffered due to the massive financial losses taken due to problems with the A380. The technologies required to make a successful and competitive aircraft also require a massive financial investment.
By outsourcing over half of the production, it can distribute the financial burden of development. However, without a competing airplane to the 787, Airbus could find itself losing the mid-sized long-haul market.