'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
Even before the European Union recently hit airlines with a controversial new emissions fee on international flights, carriers already were pushing to reduce their carbon footprints in a bid to save money.
In a battle of aerospace giants, Europe's Airbus bested Chicago-based Boeing in 2011 with more sales, as the two rivals continue to dominate the industry.
To fly someone from New York to Los Angeles and back, airlines spend close to $330 these days — just on fuel.
Boeing is still reeling from problems with its 787 Dreamliner — a two-aisle plane that was about three years behind schedule when the company started delivering it last year, Mr. Herbst said.
Europe's Airbus tops U.S-based Boeing with top sales total of '11 →
"So by starting out with less fuel, we could get up to a higher altitude a lot quicker," Mr. Herbst said.
