Chirac meets superjumbo team

President Jacques Chirac was travelling to Airbus headquarters in southwest France today to congratulate the European team behind the maiden flight of the A380 superjumbo jet.

The high-profile aviation success with the four-hour test flight on Wednesday offers Chirac a handy tool to promote the benefit of French co-operation with Europe in his campaign for a “yes” vote in next month’s national referendum on the EU Constitution.

France’s relationship to the rest of the European Union is on many minds ahead of the May 29 national referendum. Most recent polls show a narrow lead for the “no” camp – and Chirac’s government is pushing hard to stem the opposition and woo undecided voters.

Thousands of aviation buffs and other spectators flocked to the airport in Blagnac, near the southern city of Toulouse, for the maiden flight on Wednesday - a moment of national and European pride.

The presidential palace announced Chirac’s impromptu visit to company headquarters only after the plane had touched down following Wednesday’s flight.

Airbus mobilised about 4,000 employees – many wearing blue workers’ overalls - to welcome the president on the tarmac in front of the giant airliner. His visit was expected to last about an hour.