Airbus Confirms A380 delay
 

Reported by the BBC that Airbus has confirmed that deliveries of its forthcoming A380 will be delayed by six months. No reason given.

Here is the link.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4598779.stm

And I was just about to post the same link ... truth is, is there really any surprise about the delay - the time framing always looked a bit optimisitic (sp), and I'd want an aircraft thats been fully tested prepared, etc. rather than a rush job.

Jordan

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...0_7/?hub=World


Airbus confirms 'superjumbo' delay
Associated Press

PARIS — Airbus said Wednesday that deliveries to early customers of the A380 "superjumbo'' will be delayed by up to six months, as Australia's Qantas said it will seek compensation for the lag.

"We've now spoken to A380 customers and told them how they will be affected,'' Airbus spokesman David Velupillai said. "The delays range from two to six months depending on the customer.''

Velupillai was speaking after Air France confirmed it will be forced to postpone the planned April 2007 launch of A380 services.

"Airbus has advised us that there will be a delivery delay,'' said a Paris-based spokesman for Air France-KLM, which groups the merged French and Dutch carriers Air France and KLM. He declined to say how long the delay would be or whether Air France will seek compensation.

On April 27, the day of the A380's first test flight, Airbus had announced that deliveries to launch customer Singapore Airlines Ltd. would take place in the "second half of 2006'' instead of March, as originally planned.

Now, however, a string of customers including Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd. say they will also be affected as the delays have a domino effect on Airbus production schedules.

Qantas said Wednesday that its first of its 12 new A380s will arrive six months late because of "manufacturing issues,'' and confirmed it will be seeking compensation.

"This is disappointing, given that we have met all of Airbus' deadlines for Qantas specifications,'' said CEO Geoff Dixon. All airlines with early A380 orders are going to have to wait, he added.

Singapore Airlines CEO Chew Choon Seng has also said the carrier plans to demand compensation.

Airbus declined to comment on its exposure to claims, insisting the terms of its contracts with customers remain confidential. But it played down their potential impact on the program's profitability.

In any aircraft program, Velupillai said, "deliveries begin slowly in the early years and pick up pace later on so the effects will be limited.''

Something tells me Boeing will be trading 747 Advanced for A380s like they did with the A340s for 777s. :E

Boy, I bet they can't give them things away right now. :\

747focal

No, I think you're wrong there. There is still the odd 747 and 777 being sold. You really should not worry so much about Boeing.

I am not worried about either A nor B.

And I meant that Boeing will be taking A380s on trade for 747 Advanced like they did with the Singapore A340s for 777s several years back.

Sales of 747s have slowed a bit, but 777s are going out the door like hot cakes. :p

Heard, AI has some trouble with the PA;) ;) ;)

regards

747FOCAL, you need to get out more. Meet people in the industry, you know, talk to people at the bar, find out what's really going on. The World would be a good place to try that.

I was/am sceptical about the AI projections for the A380, (but equally sceptical about Boeing's downer on the aircraft). But wherever I go I find genuine interest in the aircraft from people who know what they're talking about. You're way out on your perception of the A380 right now, and the -900 will be a formidable aircraft down the track.

Thunderball 2,

I don't have a bad perception of the A380. You, and many others on PPRUNE, need to take a remedial reading class.

One thing I know about this industry is that if you make promises and then can't deliver people will go elsewhere to stop the bleeding (i.e. Singapore A340s). Scare the airlines bad enough with pervcieved problems on a new launch aircraft and you will see order dumping like crazy.

ps. Mrs. Focal already thinks I spend too much time traveling around to various airlines selling my wares. We always end up in a bar or two. If you really want to know who has a "poopy" view of the A380 you need to speak with baby Focal. For some reason every time his diaper is dirty he runs around holding his butt yelling "A380" "A380". :E

If you really want to know who has a "poopy" view of the A380 you need to speak with baby Focal. For some reason every time his diaper is dirty he runs around holding his butt yelling "A380" "A380".


:O ;) :O ;) :O

I don't believe.....

Diverting for a moment (sorry), the 747 freighter proponents have, at length, told us the advantage of it is the nose door for outsize/long loads. The A380 was disparaged for only have side hatches.

Just read in AWST about all the orders rolling for 744 conversions to freighters whcih are being done in China. Exactly the same spec as the 747F except - no nose door.

Obviously not that important then.

catchup,

I will video tape it and post a link. Hopefully by tonight. :O

@747focal
 

Go ahead. Should we start an ad at pprune?

:O :O :O

Oh my god.....

anyone able to confirm if it will be at Paris or not?..

Sales of 747s have slowed a bit, but 777s are going out the door like hot cakes.
 

Yes, -4 and 12 (hot cakes, that is):

http://active.boeing.com/commercial/orders/index.cfm

Just read in AWST about all the orders rolling for 744 conversions to freighters whcih are being done in China. Exactly the same spec as the 747F except - no nose door.

Just to add my undeucated opinion of the 380F v. 744F. There is also another larger issue than the nose door. That is the floor loading restrictions.

On the 744F the floor loading is 9.2bs/sq in. on the 380F, it's 7.2lbs/sq in. That in it self is a fairly significant limitation on the 380. On the 744SF the loading on the main deck is also limited in certain areas. IIRC, it's only about 2-4 pallet positions. Not a significant impact on operations. In addition, the 744F/SF will accept a 10' pallet through the side door. The 380F standard door will not accept a pallet that tall.

rotornut,

Don't think you should post Airbus numbers?

Shuky darn, Boeing has so many orders for the 767 that it's end of the line has been pushed out another year. :uhoh:

What I was refering to was the back order. Shoot the 737 (at 800) is more than A will have for anything in years.

Lets watch and just shut up. Cheers. :ugh:

Airbus said Wednesday the delays were due to production problems linked to the cabin fittings demanded by the different clients. "The first 15 planes to produce are completely different, one from another," an Airbus spokesman said.

A source close to Airbus suppliers said: "The interior fittings are posing some problems, notably the installation of new entertainment systems."

Airbus figures: http://www.airbus.com/store/mm_repos...sults_2004.pdf

Or, for more figures, see: http://www.airbus.com/en/corporate/o...nd_deliveries/


"The A320 Family continues to be aviation's best selling programme with 123 firm orders so far this year, including 60 from new customer Air Asia, Malaysia's low carrier airline. A further eight carriers, including other new customers Czech Airlines, Shenzhen and Kingfisher Airlines have placed firm orders, growing the A320 Family's customer base to 138 airlines, leasing companies and private operators.
The continuing high demand for the A320 is the driver behind Airbus' 66 per cent market share so far this year. However the Airbus order book also includes 22 A330/A340, allowing this family's sales to surpass the 900 mark, becoming the best selling twin-aisle passenger aircraft ever.

The success of the single aisle family is reflected in the deliveries with 88 A320 Family aircraft delivered out of a total of 116 aircraft so far this year."

B767 orders look pretty feeble....

new entertainment systems."


Will it show 747FOCAL's video?

regards;)