- This has been your fourth Le Bourget air show as Chief Executive Officer of Airbus. How did this year’s air show differ from previous ones?

I think that, in the run-up to the show, the context was more strained than usual with our competitor openly questioning whether we, Airbus, would remain the leader. I am very pleased that our performance during the week has answered that question with a resounding yes!

- This has been another busy air show for Airbus: which single moment would you pick as being the highlight?

I think the contract signature with Kingfisher Airlines was a highly symbolic moment because they purchased A330s – showing that the A330 remains a fantastic product; they purchased A350s – demonstrating that this is the aircraft of the future; and they bought A380s which is a great first for the Indian sub-continent.

- What message would you have for the 90,000 people who visit our website every day?

Thank you for your support! The Airbus teams are sustained by the passion they have for the aircraft we produce and by the support we get from the public. We started out as a challenger and we want to retain that mind-set as we go forward. We have always strived to build “friendly” products, whether with respect to the environment, noise levels or high standards of comfort for passengers. And perhaps it is because we put the emphasis on friendliness that we receive such strong support in return.