Updating Boeing vs. Airbus

Some interesting stuff happening if you are a commercial aviation buff and follow the best business rivalry bar none.

First, Russia has indeed taken a 5% stake in Airbus, which, as I stated here, is likely a negative, not because Russia doesn't have world class engineering, but because this is simply about the Russian government getting in on the political patronage and power-broking that European governments use Airbus for.

Second, Bloomberg is reporting that Aeroflot may split an upcoming order for 44 planes between Airbus and Boeing. It may be that they have needs for the two planes, but it is also likely that this is a gambit to accelerate Russian influence into Airbus. They've just bought a big stake and now the Russians are going to buy Boeing planes (maybe Dick Cheney could attend the order announcement)? I'm skeptical. I think they are faking an interest in Boeing to gain more concessions and, paired with their new shareholding stake, generate maximum momentum behind their desire to integrate Russian influence into the Airbus system.