Airbus has certified Bridgestone tires for factory installation on all its aircraft models: the long-range A330 and A340 families, the A300-600, and the single-aisle family, which comprises the A318, A319, A320 and A321.
In addition, Bridgestone Corp. will develop new-generation tires for installation on the A340-500 and A340-600 models, the company says.
Bridgestone is also working on new-generation tires for the A380, which is now under development. Airbus and Bridgestone signed the supply contract for the A380 tires in June 2003.
The pace and scope of Bridgestone tire deliveries to Airbus will depend on the specifications indicated by airlines in ordering aircraft. But management at Bridgestone expects to earn orders for fitments on the full range of Airbus models.
Bridgestone has supplied airlines with new and retreaded replacement tires for Airbus models since 1982.
In this intensely competitive market, Bridgestone estimates that its market share amounts to about one-third of total demand.
The company manufactures new aircraft tires at its Kurume Plant in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
It operates aircraft tire retreading plants at another site in Japan and in the United States, Belgium and Hong Kong.
