Airbus Eyes New Zealand as New A400M Customer in 2015

Airbus Defense & Space, said that they expect an export order for the A400M airlifter by the end of the year — the first since Malaysia signed for four aircraft in December 2005.
An A400M from the French Air Force was present at the 2015 Australian International Air Show.
The aircraft arrived at Avalon direct from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and was heading to Noumea in French New Caledonia at the conclusion of the show.
The A400M had flown in excess of 24 flying hours to Southern Australia without requiring anything more than routine maintenance along the way eyeing New Zealand:
"Our message to New Zealand is, with A400M you can cover all of the strategic requirements, which is mainly their Antarctic service" he said. "And at the same time, with the tactical capability of this aircraft, you can land on many of the various islands north of New Zealand, you can begin replacing, or sorting out your aging C-130 issues."
10 A400Ms have been delivered to the air forces of France, Germany, Turkey and the United Kingdom to date, with the first aircraft for the Royal Malaysian Air Force due to be handed overMarch.
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