Further delays in the Airbus A380 superjumbo production programme
13 May 2008
European aerospace and defence giant, EADS, said Tuesday it had pushed back its delivery schedule for the Airbus A380 superjumbo after an internal assessment which found that an attempt to ramp up production would take more time and resources than envisaged.
"As a result, Airbus plans now for 12 (instead of 13) deliveries in 2008 and 21 (instead of 25) in 2009. Details about the new plan and the further ramp-up and delivery slots in 2010 and the following years will be discussed with customers in the coming weeks,'' it said.
The A380, which is the world's biggest passenger airliner, is already two years behind schedule.
"The extent of the additional costs will be influenced by the actual production and delivery scenario. This will follow discussions with the customers and a more precise evaluation of the implications of the new delivery schedule for 2010 deliveries and beyond,'' it said.
It gave no indication, however, of the penalties it expects to pay as a result of the delays.
The European consortium, of which Airbus is a division, had informed all its A380 customers last week that production had reached a critical phase.
The A380 went into service last year with launch customer Singapore Airlines.
EADS also said that four A380 aircraft have been delivered as scheduled and that 17 more were in various stages of production.
