More Delays for A-380!
10-03-2006, 06:53 PM
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More Delays for A-380!
Airbus: A380 faces new delays
SUPERJUMBO JET: The latest production holdups leave the program two years behind schedule.
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, October 3, 2006
By LAURENCE FROST
The Associated Press
PARIS - Airbus parent EADS said Tuesday that the flagship A380 superjumbo jet will be delayed for another year, and Virgin Atlantic and Emirates -- the plane's biggest customers -- hinted that the new setbacks could lead to order cancellations.
Airbus sees "no significant signs" that cancellations are likely from any of its A380 customers, CEO Christian Streiff said during a conference call with reporters and analysts. "Until now, everybody's still on board."
But Dubai-based Emirates signaled that its bumper 45-plane order, worth over $13 billion at list prices, could be in doubt after suffering a further delay of 10 months.
"This is a very serious issue for Emirates, and the company is now reviewing all its options," Chief Executive Tim Clark said in an e-mailed statement.
Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. spokesman Paul Charles said the carrier will be reviewing its six-plane order at an Oct. 12 board meeting, with "all options" on the table. "The depths of the delays have serious implications," he said.
But Air France and Lufthansa said they were still committed to the plane despite a new one-year delay to their deliveries.
While Air France "can only regret" the latest delays, the airline said in a statement, they will have no impact on its growth strategy.
"We're still convinced that the A380 is a success story and the A380 is a growth aircraft," Lufthansa spokeswoman Stefanie Stotz said.
Streiff reiterated Tuesday that the latest production holdups -- which leave the program two years behind its original schedule -- were caused entirely by problems with the installation of the 300 miles of wiring aboard each plane.
Emirates, which had originally been scheduled to take delivery of an A380 this month, will receive the first plane 22 months late.
SUPERJUMBO JET: The latest production holdups leave the program two years behind schedule.
10:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, October 3, 2006
By LAURENCE FROST
The Associated Press
PARIS - Airbus parent EADS said Tuesday that the flagship A380 superjumbo jet will be delayed for another year, and Virgin Atlantic and Emirates -- the plane's biggest customers -- hinted that the new setbacks could lead to order cancellations.
Airbus sees "no significant signs" that cancellations are likely from any of its A380 customers, CEO Christian Streiff said during a conference call with reporters and analysts. "Until now, everybody's still on board."
But Dubai-based Emirates signaled that its bumper 45-plane order, worth over $13 billion at list prices, could be in doubt after suffering a further delay of 10 months.
"This is a very serious issue for Emirates, and the company is now reviewing all its options," Chief Executive Tim Clark said in an e-mailed statement.
Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. spokesman Paul Charles said the carrier will be reviewing its six-plane order at an Oct. 12 board meeting, with "all options" on the table. "The depths of the delays have serious implications," he said.
But Air France and Lufthansa said they were still committed to the plane despite a new one-year delay to their deliveries.
While Air France "can only regret" the latest delays, the airline said in a statement, they will have no impact on its growth strategy.
"We're still convinced that the A380 is a success story and the A380 is a growth aircraft," Lufthansa spokeswoman Stefanie Stotz said.
Streiff reiterated Tuesday that the latest production holdups -- which leave the program two years behind its original schedule -- were caused entirely by problems with the installation of the 300 miles of wiring aboard each plane.
Emirates, which had originally been scheduled to take delivery of an A380 this month, will receive the first plane 22 months late.
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