Airbus 1.was formed (form) in 1970 when the French company Aerospatiale and the German company
Daimler-Benz Aerospace agreed to work together to manufacture large passenger planes. The two
companies 2.were joined (join) by the Spanish company Casa in 1971, and British Aerospace became
part of the consortium in 1979.
The first aircraft, the A300,3.was produced (produce) in 1972. The first planes 4.were very successful,
and 55 planes 4.were ordered (order) by different airlines, mostly European. However, in 1975 the
company had serious problems, and no orders 5.were received (receive) for sixteen months. The
problems 6.were solved (solve) when the American company Eastern Airlines leased four A300B4s in
1977. The planes were very popular. The following year, 23 A300s 7.were sold (sell) to Eastern
Airlines, and 46 more planes 8.were bought (buy) by other US Airlines. This let Airbus into American
market, which at the time 9.was dominated (dominate) completely by Boeing.
In 2000, Airbus began work on the A380, the biggest passenger plane in the world. It 10.was designed
(design) to have 555 seats, two decks, shops, bars, and even a gymnasium. When the A380
11.was launched (launch) in January 2005, 45 of the new planes 12.were ordered (order) by Emirates
of Dubai at a cost of $19 billion, making this the biggest deal in aviation history.