KATHERINE BENNETT

The Airbus SVP speaks to Andy Hoskins about its stance on Brexit and sustainable aviation developments as it marks 50 years in business

Katherine Bennett’s storied career to date includes almost 15 years at Airbus – incorporating a twoyear stint at its global headquarters in Toulouse – and, previously, a role heading up government affairs at General Motors.

“I’ve done cars and planes but I have no intention of doing trains at the moment,” Bennett quips. Her considerable achievements have been recognised firstly with an OBE for services to industry and charity in 2004 and then, this January, a CBE for services to the aerospace and aviation sector.

She describes her current role at Airbus as ambassadorial, leading external engagement and strategy in the UK. Brexit is naturally high on the agenda and the organisation’s stance has been well publicised.

“No deal is an extremely bad thing for Airbus and the aerospace sector is being completely consistent in saying that,” says Bennett. “Despite what some of the more Brexit-supporting ministers said, it is not that straightforward. We have thousands and thousands of parts moving across borders. You could have a case where one truck not getting through a border could hold the production line up.”

Airbus has spent nearly €100million on stockpiling parts and various logistical activities in preparation for a potential no-deal Brexit, which it has said could cost the company €1billion a week.

In addition, post-brexit, the UK would no longer be a full member of the European

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), adding further complications for Airbus.

“Way before Brexit we said we didn’t want one European safety agency, one American safety agency, one Chinese agency – we’d rather have a global regulator,” Bennett explains. “So going back to being on our island with the CAA is absolutely contrary to what we saw the industry needed.”

She also highlights the need for collaboration if the aviation sector is to address its environmental responsibilities.

“Our company and our sector has to play its part in tackling the climate change challenges,” says Bennett. “It’s got to be with our partners in aerospace and aviation, that’s the airline operators, the engine designers and the airports. And also, here in Europe, improvements in air traffic management – we’re still operating with air traffic management set up in the 1950s.”

The company has signed up to some

“tough targets”, including the industry’s goal of halving its carbon emissions on 2005 levels by 2050, and also aims to reduce emissions through its own operations by 5% this year. Meanwhile, work on developing alternative fuels and electric power is one of its top priorities currently.

E-fan X, announced in 2017, is Airbus’ latest electric concept. “It is based on an earlier version, E-fan, which was the first electric flight over the Channel a couple of years ago, so it is based on hard facts and real flights,” explains Bennett.

“We have a vision that in the next 15 years we could see aircraft under the 100-seat mark propelled by hybrid propulsion.”

By that time it is possible the company’s much-loved A380 ’superjumbos’ will be in their last days of active service, with Airbus announcing it will cease production in 2021.

“It’s a great icon of the aviation industry,” says Bennett. “We had less demand than we were hoping and than had been predicted. Emirates reduced their order and their demand is now being met by our other aircraft in the slightly smaller segment.”

That includes the A350, which Bennett quickly points out is the fastest-growing aircraft in aviation history.

“We’re adapting and working on it and that’s the key focus for Airbus now. We’ve had an A350 fly one of the longest flights ever done, from Singapore to New York, so maybe that will be the future – improving the midsize aircraft,” says Bennett.

“It will be exciting to see how the aviation sector responds to the use of new technology that permits these longer flights.”

Our company and our sector has to play its part in tackling the climate change challenges and it’s got to be done with our partners in aerospace and aviation”