By Rhys Jones

Airbus will deliver the first of its new freight cargo aircraft in the summer of 2010, the company said Thursday after the plane took off on its maiden test flight.

Airbus Americas Inc. spent $190,000 in the third quarter lobbying over its competition for a $35 billion Air Force contract for aerial refueling tankers and other issues, according to a recent disclosure form.

With hundreds of new jobs at stake, Kansas officials are keeping an eye on the competition for an Air Force contract to build a new refueling plane.

The Air Force will soon release its final request for proposed bids in the long saga of replacing it's mid-air refueling tankers. Boeing and Northrop Grumman/EADS are facing off again for a massive deal that will start at $35 billion, but could end up over $100 billion.

Hawaii companies that would benefit from earmarks sponsored by U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, that are in the Senate version of the fiscal year 2010 defense appropriations measure. The firms' executives and other employees have contributed to Inouye's campaign committees since 1997.

A $750 million Boeing 787 assembly plant is expected to bring thousands of badly needed jobs to South Carolina's ailing economy and, officials hope, a closer look at the state by other industrial prospects.

Matt Gettmann began working in finance at Boeing Co. last year, and it wasn't long before he found himself watching, stunned, as union members prepared for what became an eight-week strike.

Shares of Alcoa Inc. gained 9 percent on Thursday after the company said it was working with China on the development of a commercial jetliner that would compete in the international aviation market.

Alcoa Inc. said Thursday it is working with China on the development of the country's newest and biggest commercial jetliner.

By Maria Sheahan

Boeing Co. will open a second assembly line for its long-delayed 787 jetliner in South Carolina, expanding beyond its longtime manufacturing base in Washington state to take advantage of economic incentives and a nonunion work force.

Sen. Patty Murray's office says she's trying to arrange talks Wednesday in Washington, D.C., between Boeing and the Machinists union.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers who support Boeing in its bid for a $35 billion tanker contract want President Barack Obama to force the Air Force to include a recent World Trade Organization ruling against Airbus in its decision.

Forty U.S. lawmakers backing Boeing Co urged President Barack Obama on Monday to ensure a new Air Force competition for aerial refueling planes takes account of alleged illegal subsidies received by Airbus.