2006年VOA标准英语-Asian Airlines Disappointed by Latest Airbus De

By Claudia Blume
Hong Kong
09 October 2006 

A worker is seen on the Airbus A 380 superjumbo assembly line in Toulouse, southwestern France

Several airlines in the Asia-Pacific region are reviewing their options after the latest delay in the delivery of the Airbus 380 and a U.S. investment bank has found a way into China's commercial banking¹ business. 

-------

Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Australia's Qantas Airways² say they are disappointed about the latest delay in the delivery of the Airbus 380.

The France-based European Aeronautic³ Defense⁴ and Space Corporation has postponed⁵ the delivery of the new super-jumbos for the third time since June 2005 due to production problems.

Singapore Airlines will receive its first of 10 firmly ordered A-380s at the end of 2007, a year later than scheduled. Airbus deliveries to Malaysia Airlines and Qantas will be delayed by two years to 2008.

Qantas' chief financial officer Peter Gregg says the airline may revise its Airbus order and look at buying planes from U.S. rival Boeing instead.

"We always look at the alternatives to every aircraft type, and it's no secret that we have looked at 747 800. We have ordered the A 380, it would be a very significant event for us to cancel those orders. But we have to review all our options at this point of time," he said.

U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley has established a foothold in China's commercial banking sector⁶ by buying tiny lender Nan Tung Bank in the southern city of Zhuhai.

Morgan Stanley bought the bank, which has just one branch, for an undisclosed sum from Bank of China, the country's second largest lender. The purchase allows the U.S. bank to provide products denominated in the local currency, the yuan, to corporate⁷ customers through Nan Tung Bank.

Normally, foreign banks have to operate for at least five years in China and obtain a commercial banking license⁸ before being able to conduct local currency-denominated corporate banking.

India's Tata Group will launch a national chain of mega-stores for consumer electrical appliances in alliance with Australian retailer⁹ Woolworths.

Woolworths will provide technical support and sourcing facilities for the new stores, which will be named "Croma". Tata plans to launch 30 "Croma" mega-stores across India within the next 18 months, the first in Mumbai.

London's famous black taxis will soon be driving on the streets of China. British specialist carmaker Manganese Bronze has signed a $100 million-joint-venture deal with Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holdings to produce the taxicabs in Shanghai. The new plant will be able to make up to 20,000 taxis a year.

1 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

2 AIRWAYS   

航空公司

参考例句：

• The giant jets that increasingly dominate the world's airways. 越来越称雄于世界航线的巨型喷气机。
• At one point the company bought from Nippon Airways a 727 jet. 有一次公司从日本航空公司买了一架727型喷气机。

3 aeronautic   

adj.航空（学）的

参考例句：

• Something akin to panic swept the National Aeronautic and Space Agency. 一种近乎恐慌的心情席卷了国家宇航局。 来自辞典例句
• They are widely used in electronic instruments aeronautic instruments etc. 此类轴承在各类电子仪器中得以广泛运用。 来自互联网

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

6 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

7 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

8 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

9 retailer   

n.零售商(人)

参考例句：

• What are the retailer requirements?零售商会有哪些要求呢？
• The retailer has assembled a team in Shanghai to examine the question.这家零售商在上海组建了一支团队研究这个问题。