The Airbus A300 is a short- to mid-range widebody aircaft. The world's first twin-engined widebody, launched in 1972, was the first product of the Airbus consortium of European aerospace companies, today owned by EADS. The A300B2, the first production model, entered service in 1974. Initially the success of the consortium was poor, but by 1979 there were 81 aircraft in service. 30 years after becoming the first "ETOPS compliant" aircraft, (its high performance and safety standards qualified it for Extended Twin Engine Operations) it ceased production in July 2007. By 1981, Airbus was growing rapidly, with over 300 aircraft sold and options for 200 more aircraft for over forty airlines.