It is no surprise when the European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co. (EADS) announced on 31st July that it will be renamed as the Airbus Group beginning January 1st, 2014, given the world's second-largest plane-maker accounted for 71.9% of EADS's €26.3 billion 2013 first-half revenue and 73.7% of EADS's earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of €1.48 billion.
But beneath the surface the name change reflects the unmistakable intent of the German paratrooper, Tom Enders, who has led the European aerospace group since May 2012, that not only the commercial segment of the business will continue to the name of the game following the completion of a strategic review, but it is also a move to "commercialise" the business and wean it off the political infighting that has plagued the European aerospace giant since its inception in 2000 by combining the aerospace assets of the then national champions such as Daimler Chrysler Aerospace (DASA) and Aerospatiale.
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