Virgin Atlantic to delay A380 deliveries until 2013 (Schadenfreud!!)

MarketWatch ^ | 10/26/06 | Steve Goldstein

[SW6906]

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Virgin Atlantic on Thursday said it's agreed to push back deliveries of the troubled Airbus A380 superjumbo until 2013, a move it said would give Airbus the ability to focus on getting first versions of the planes to key customers.

The privately held airline said by then, the A380 will have proved its "innovative design" over several years in customer service. Virgin had previously anticipating delivery of its first A380 in 2009.

The deferral will allow Airbus to prioritize production and deliveries for launch customers such as Singapore Airlines, Virgin said, adding it's extended the leases of several Boeing 747-800 aircraft to meet its fleet needs.

[SW6906]

How magnanimous of Virgin to do this! It's still very bad news for Airbus.

I'm interested to learn what this new 747-800 model is.....

[SW6906]

Ping!

[Kozak]

Check it out....

http://www.newairplane.com/747/

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Mr. Branson is having second thoughts about the Toulouse Goose, I'd say...

[rlmorel]

As the former IMPOTUS said:

"You better put some ice on that..."

[sr4402]

How magnanimous of Virgin to do this! It's still very bad news for Airbus.

Do you think they would be able to get the A380 out by 2009?? How much will Boeing beat this??

[norton]

"How magnanimous ..."

Yeah, that and the fact that Singapore Airlines owns 49% of Virgin and Singapore Airlines is the prime beneficiary of the delay.

[SW6906]

That's the 747-8. There is no such thing as a 747-800. I was making a subtle joke about the medias lack of knowledge and failure to do even the most basic fact checking of an article.......you would think someone reporting on the industry would know the basics.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

translated:

I'm going to let someone else try to fly those deathtraps first.

[Paleo Conservative]

I think the article is wrong about leases on 747-800's. They have 747-400's. No airline has ordered the 747-800I to launch that program, but there have been three 747-800I's sold as VIP jets.

If you want on or off my aerospace ping list, please contact me by Freep mail.

[SW6906]

The 747-400ER is already out there, the 747-8 I believe rolls out in 2010 or late 2009.

[rlmorel]

(Forgot the graphic for Airbus...)

[Gamecock]

***The privately held airline said by then, the A380 will have proved its "innovative design" over several years in customer service.***

Translation: We're going to sit back and see if this lemon is really all that Airbus claims it is. If the program is still going in 2013 maybe we'll buy some.

[SW6906]

Paleo, you disappoint me. ;o)

See post #8.

[rlmorel]

DAMN! THAT IS ONE BEAUTIFUL BIRD!

[liberty_lvr]

...you would think someone reporting on the industry would know the basics.

You are joking, right? You do understand that, except in certain rare instances, there are no more real journalists any more. There is only lib-tard, emotionally stunted life rejects who spew vomit every once in a while and call it "news".

[Paleo Conservative]

That's the 747-8. There is no such thing as a 747-800. I was making a subtle joke about the medias lack of knowledge and failure to do even the most basic fact checking of an article.......you would think someone reporting on the industry would know the basics.

True, but when actually delivered to their customers, I bet they are designated with the "8" plus the two character airline code. The 747-8's bought by British Airways will be designated 747-836 just as the earlier models were the 747-236 and 747-436.

[SW6906]

You're right, I stand corrected.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Those wings are a little creepy.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

What is neat about this thread to me is that instead of this being another Airbust bashing thread, all everyone has been doing is talking about the new Boeing 747-8.