鹰击长空: 空客A350 VS 波音787

This is the plane we are all talking about. The super jumbo performing for the first time at Farnborough. But this is the man we came to hear, the new chief executive of Airbus, who again apologized for the crisis at his company and promised a new way of doing business.

"What we need now especially in this critical situation is not to haste, but to act quickly, act rapidly but without haste."

Key to the reform plan is this plane, the totally revamped A350 now with the initials XWB-- Extra Wide Body. The plane-maker is trying hard to win back the confidence of its customers.

And you don't deliver on a promise for a customer, that is the most serious which can happen for our companies.

Airbus will privately¹ admit that the revamped 350 is the plane they should have offered a couple of years ago. Now it may be too late.

Boeing has already sold more than 400 of the dreamliner planes and it hasn't even built the plane yet. Having seen the Airbus's experience, Boeing knows only too well the problems it too may face.

Er,new airplanes are very difficult. That we are a little bit over and away from our target right now, a little bit behind the schedule in some areas, but we have plans and place to address both. They were on schedule for our first flight next year, and delivery in 2008.

If Boeing is feeling pleased with the way things are going, back at Airbus it's not entirely² all gloom, the new chief is relishing³ getting to grips.

Are you enjoying yourself yet?

I'm, it's almost a dream, even if it's a crisis. No, it's a fantastic company, these are fantastic talented teams. Aircraft, and the aircraft is a fantastic object, and as a pilot, I am very close to paradise at the same time. As I am really working very hard, I know we have very tough times in front of us.

With such fresh determination from the very top of Airbus, the message is clear. Boeing, you may have the upper hand for the moment, but be warned. Badly bruised⁴ Airbus maybe, but the battle goes on.

Richard Quest, CNN, at the Farnborough air show

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jumbo:[only before noun] larger than others of the same type 巨大的
revamp:informal to improve the way something looks or operates by making major changes to it 修补
relish:to get great pleasure or satisfaction from something 得到满足
the upper hand :control or an advantage over a person or situation 优势
bruise:to harm someone's reputation or confidence 挫败

1 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

2 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

3 relishing   

v.欣赏( relish的现在分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望

参考例句：

• He ate quietly, relishing his meal. 他安静地吃着，细细品味着食物。 来自辞典例句
• Yes, an iron rampart," he repeated, relishing his phrase. 是的，就是铜墙铁壁，"他很欣赏自己用的这个字眼，又重复了一遍。 来自飘（部分）

4 bruised   

[医]青肿的，瘀紫的

参考例句：

• his bruised and bloodied nose 他沾满血的青肿的鼻子
• She had slipped and badly bruised her face. 她滑了一跤，摔得鼻青脸肿。