Airbus update on A380
JF Mezei
It was planning on delivering 18 in 2009, but has now announced it will
only deliver 14.
The blame is on the customers defering deliveries.
Qantas already announced it had defered 4 A380 deliveries.
Singapore, Emirates and Air France are also due to get aircraft this year.
My first reaction is that the deferrals would have allowed Airbus to
deliver 4 aircraft customers who had originally planned to get their
aircradft in 2009, thus reducing penalties that need to be paid.
However, with such sort notice, I am not sure those airlines would be
ready to take aircraft early. (thinka bout planning, crew training
schedules etc).
And it is also likely that few airlines would want to take 4 A380s early.
In the end, I suspect Airbus will settle at around 12 per year. This
way, the production line can remain active for many more years (assuming
the order book doesn't evaporate like that of the Concorde). Hopefully
during this time, demand for air travel will be re-energised and
airlines will once again want A380s.
Airbus also said that A350 development is continuing at full speed.
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