- 14 May 2008 -
Further delays in A380 production

AIRBUS SAYS it has reviewed the Airbus 380 programme and is changing its delivery schedule as the steep ramp-up planned in 2006 proves not to be fully achievable. Details of the financial impact are not yet available.

Airbus warns that 12 rather than 13 deliveries will be made in 2008, and the number for 2009 is 21 rather than 25. The new delivery plan, further ramp-up and deliveries for 2010 will be discussed with customers in coming weeks.

The reason for the delays is that time and resources needed for low rate individual production, called Wave 1, are higher than expected causing delays in the transition to Wave 2 – the full serial design and manufacturing process.

Airbus stresses, however, that the 2006 recovery programme is performing well overall with four aircraft being delivered as planned and 17 aircraft in various stages of production. Most aircraft earmarked for delivery in 2008 have already flown.

In April, competitor Boeing announced a revised delivery schedule for its 787 with delays of about half a year for deliveries in 2009.

Airbus; www.airbus.com

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