Airbus to install Bridgestone tires on all planes

TOKYO (Nov. 5)—Airbus S.A.S. has certified Bridgestone Corp. tires for factory installation on all its aircraft models, the Japanese tire maker said. Bridgestone also is working with Airbus to develop new tires for the Airbus A340-500, A340-600 and the next generation A380 jumbo models. Bridgestone said it expects to translate the certification into orders across the full Airbus range, although this will depend on the specifications of airlines that buy the aircraft. The Airbus fleet covers the long-range A330 and A340 families, the A300-600, and the single-aisle A318, A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. Bridgestone manufactures aircraft tires at its Kurume, Japan, plant and retreads aircraft tires at sites in Japan, the U.S., Belgium and Hong Kong. It has supplied Airbus with tires since 1982. Bridgestone estimates it has one-third of the global market for commercial aircraft tires.