Further Delays for Airbus A380

Airbus has confirmed a further delay to the deliveries of the mammoth A380. Launch customer, Singapore Airlines, who expected to begin flights with the new aircraft end 2006, has a total of 19 A380's on order.

Singapore Airline's first A380 will now be scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2007, and deliveries of subsequent aircraft will occur in 2008 and beyond.

The delays are disappointing, not only to the airline, but also to customers who were eagerly awaiting the chance to fly on the most technologically advanced commercial plane of our time. Despite the delays, the flight test and certification programme has been proceeding well, with Airbus blaming the delays on production issues.

Singapore Airlines has said it is assessing the impact that these latest delays will have on its forward capacity growth, and is assessing options to mitigate the situation.

New capacity will still be injected into the Singapore Airlines fleet, with the first of 19 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft being delivered in November 2006. Six of these aircraft will be delivered before the end of 2006, and ten will be in service by mid-2007.

Pursuant to the agreement between Airbus and Singapore Airlines, compensation will be provided, although terms of the contract remain confidential.

Singapore Airlines remains the first to fly the new super-jumbo, and, as was the case under the former delivery schedule, will receive the first four aircraft.

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