Europe, which needed American cargo aircraft like Boeing and Lockheed Martin during the Gulf War in 1991 and Kosovo War in 1999, started to seek alternatives since that time.

Turkey, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Spain reportedly ordered 180 cargo aircraft to Airbus firm, which will earn 24 billion dollars from these sales. Italy and Portugal negotiated with Airbus, but changed their mind about buying cargo airplanes from the firm afterwards.