A380 Faces New Delays

Spiegel ^ | May 13, 2008

[DeaconBenjamin]

Airbus parent company EADS says it is expecting further delays in deliveries of the A380 superjumbo, the world's largest passenger jet. In 2008, the company says it will only be able to build 12 of the aircraft instead of a planned 13. In 2009, it will only produce 21 of a planned 25 jets.

EADS claims that it has already delivered four A380 aircraft, and 17 others are in production. "Most aircraft earmarked for delivery in 2008 have already flown," the company said in a statement.

The company said that details about the new plan and deliveries for 2010 and the following years will be discussed with customers in the coming weeks. EADS said its review of production at this stage does not cover the financial impact. "The extent of the additional costs will be influenced by the actual production and delivery scenarios," the company said in a statement.

Last week, executives at Emirates airlines, one of the largest customers for the A380 superjumbo, said they had been informed by Airbus of expected delays in delivery. The company is already supposed to have been delivered 19 aircraft, but instead it has received close to €100 million ($154.5 million) in compensation payments from Airbus because of delays.

Airbus has been battling with production problems on the superjumbo for years now. In June 2006, the company announced an 18-month delay in delivery of the first A380. At the time, the company was struggling with complex wiring in the passenger cabin. The company's contracts with customers stipulate that it must pay damages if it fails to deliver planes on time, and so far those fees have surpassed €5 billion. The company delivered its first A380 to Singapore Airlines last October.

[Sprite518]

Is this the same Airbus that Boeing was upset with McCain about?

[reg45]

Same Airbus, different plane.

[snoringbear]

“Is this the same Airbus that Boeing was upset with McCain about?”

I am not sure about the A380. However, I am upset with McCain about having a role in EADS winning the new tanker contract over Boeing. But, in the interest of “fair and balanced” I will allow that Boeing screwed things up royally on this bid...

[Dundee]

If you’re looking at pure capability delivered the EADS tanker is the clear winner over the Boeing offering.

[Sprite518]

Oh I heard the government (McCain and Co.) in the middle of biding changed the RFP so that it met Airbus standards. In other words to ensure that Airbus got the contract. BTW, the standards were to a lesser standard of what the government originally wanted. Boeing accused McCain of corruption because of this. I would not be surprised.

[China Clipper]

Delays? Mine works like a champ.

Got to watch for that thumb webspace though. If your not careful she'll bite a bit on blowback...

But no problem with delays....

Oh? The AIRPLANE!!!

Sorry! (sheepish grin)

Nevermind!

[snoringbear]

“If you’re looking at pure capability delivered the EADS tanker is the clear winner over the Boeing offering.”

I agree when a plane-to-plane comparison is made of each offered. However, that’s one of the problems from what I have read. It’s Boeing’s contention that the plane it offered in their bid was the best plane based upon the original RFQ, T&C’s and so on. Also per Boeing, Airbus structured their bid based upon the revised RFQ - which Boeing was not allowed to bid on.

While not an expert by any stretch, it’s my perception that each company has in it’s portfolio a plane to match the other’s. So, it’s my guess had Boeing been allowed to re-bid it would have been able to offer up a plane equal to or better in capability to the one offered up by Airbus. Just my two bits...

[Paleo Conservative]

They’er a long way off from getting to the 420 (their estimate) aircraft needed to break even. Others put the break even point at over 500. I wonder if they’ll even make that before a large composite twin engined plane becomes available in the VLA size class and will knock the A380 on its tail with a much lower CASM.