The Changing Structure of the Global Large Civil Aircraft Industry and Market : Implications for the Competitiveness of the U.S. Industry

For the last 50 years, the United States has been the leading supplier of LCA to the world. Changes in the structure of the global LCA industry and its market may ultimately affect the U.S. industry’s continued dominance, as competition increases and aspiring producers seek to enter the market. The ongoing restructuring of the Airbus business operations could, if successful, significantly lower its cost of doing business and enhance its competitive position visà-vis Boeing. The two major Russian producers - Ilyushin and Tupolev - have a long history of LCA design and production for their domestic and former Soviet bloc markets, and are interested in expanding to other export markets. Currently, the principal markets for LCA are the United States, Western Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region