VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Zodiac Aerospace suffered its worst share price drop in six years on Friday after issuing a profit warning due to delays in aircraft seat production that have prompted intervention by leading planemakers.

Boeing Co (BA.N) has started using a new automated system to build wing panels for 737 jetliners, an important step in preparing to hit record production speeds while introducing new models of the popular plane.

Emirates [EMIRA.UL] has had extensive discussions with Airbus about the production of a revamped version of the A380 super jumbo with more efficient engines, the airline's president said on Thursday.

European planemaker Airbus is talking to suppliers about the possibility of raising production of its A320 family of aircraft to 50 jets a month as early as 2017, narrowing a gap with rival Boeing (BA.N), a senior industry source said on Tuesday.

The aerospace industry is shifting more manufacturing investment to the United States after a decade in which production jobs in the sector flowed to China and other emerging economies, according to a new study.

The U.S. Air Force said on Wednesday it would use Boeing Co's commercial 747-8 airliner to replace its current fleet of two Air Force One presidential aircraft, one of the most visible symbols of the United States.

Germany's defense minister has criticised Airbus (AIR.PA) over new delays in the delivery of A400M military transport planes, saying the company had a serious problem with product quality.

When the Airbus (AIR.PA) A350 jet made its commercial debut with Qatar Airways this week, the event marked a milestone for engine supplier Rolls-Royce (RR.L), but slipping unnoticed under the radar with financing was its arch-rival General Electric (GE.N).

Boeing Co (BA.N) said on Tuesday that it sees no business case for offering an extended-range version of its largest 737 jet, the forthcoming 737 MAX 9, to compete with a long-range plane that rival Airbus (AIR.PA) launched on Tuesday.

Airbus edged closer toward raising production of its best-selling model on Tuesday, declaring the supply chain stable and hinting at a decision to produce more of its A320 cash cow in coming months.

China's homemade ARJ-21 airplane has received permission to fly from the country's civil aviation regulator, the official China Daily reported Wednesday, after years of delays due to technical shortcomings.

Ten years ago, the boss of Qatar Airways, who takes his first new A350 jet this week, warned Airbus it was flying off course. Boeing was knocking on his door with a "super-efficient" jet boasting 30 percent fuel savings thanks to a carbon-composite design.

Planemaker Airbus (AIR.PA) is working on four campaigns to sell more of its A380 super jumbo, its sales chief said on Thursday.

Boeing Co (BA.N) Chief Operating Officer Dennis Muilenburg said on Wednesday that the world's largest plane maker is on track to deliver the 110 787 Dreamliners it forecast for this year, despite signs that deliveries fell below target last month.

Britain's Rolls-Royce (RR.L) said it won a $5 billion contract to supply aero engines to power 50 new Airbus (AIR.PA) planes ordered by Delta Air Lines (DAL.N).