81

Over fifty years, Toulouse has progressively become an important aeronautical construction centre, notably thanks to the success of Airbus. Today, with the launch of its A380, Airbus is embarking on an ambitious development policy to prove its success at the highest level. The length of the aeroplane, a wingspan of eighty metres, and its huge seating capacity of between five hundred and fifty and eight hundred passengers, make the A380 a truly technological and commercial challenge. It is also a challenge for the development of the Midi-Pyrénées and Aquitaine regions which have to meet the needs of its manufacture, transportation and the assembly of parts coming from sixteen sites in Europe. The Midi-Pyrénées regional development agency and its Aquitaine equivalent have implemented new strategies to deal with the urgent demands of the A380. They also have to create a ‘centre of excellence’ which will last a long time and which will rely on the ability of the network of small and medium-sized industries and companies to adapt. The new links between Airbus, the agencies and authorities have enabled the success of this project.