|
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.
See
other recent news regarding:
Airlines,
Singapore
Airlines, Airbus,
A380
|
