Airbus announces A380 delays

Airbus has confirmed press speculation about further delays to the A380 production. The aircraft manufacturer has been carrying out a A380 programme review and, 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.

Although the programme is two years behind schedule, four aircraft have already been delivered as planned and are performing very well in airline operations on long-range routes. Seventeen aircraft are in various stages of production, mainly in the wiring installation and system testing phases. Most aircraft earmarked for delivery in 2008 have already flown.

The review assessed the programme status at the critical juncture of transitioning from low rate "individual" production, so-called Wave 1, to the full serial design and manufacturing process, called Wave 2.

However, the review has also shown that the steep ramp-up planned in 2006 is not fully achievable. Time and resources needed for Wave 1 production aircraft are higher than expected, and this has created some delay in the changeover to Wave 2 with its new design and manufacturing process.

Airbus said it was unable to quantify the financial impact which will depend on the amount of compensation the airlines that had been expecting aircraft in the next two years will demand. Airbus said in a statement that "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. This will therefore take some more time to determine."

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