I am quite sure that the most important thing about this deal, more than the 40bn USD is this:
Finally, the Euros should understand that the advent of significant numbers of Americans earning paychecks that say "Airbus" will end government sponsorship of any trade dispute initiated by Boeing.
As your friendly stockbroker, I advise buying EADS or Northrup G' because I see a merger in the making. A US/Euro airplane manufacturer will open the US market to the europeans whilst allowing cost centres to be shifted to the land of the dollar.