Airbus To Slow A380 Delivery Rate

By: Gregory Polek

May 6, 2009
Aerospace Industry, Aircraft

Airbus has adjusted its delivery schedule for the A380 superjumbo for this year to reflect a planned cut in production from 18 to 14 airplanes “due to the current economic and aviation crisis and following specific customer requests for deferrals,” the company announced today. The European manufacturer also revealed that it planned to deliver 20 airplanes next year, and added that rate schedules beyond 2010 will depend “on airline demand and availability of customer financing.” The company said it planned to take “mitigating actions” against the negative effects of the production cut and expects “no significant impact” on earnings.

An Airbus spokesman couldn’t elaborate on the nature of the so-called mitigating actions, saying only that “it is too early to say, like job-wise, etcetera.”

Although the spokesman said he must respect confidentiality agreements with the customers who asked for the deferrals, Qantas last month said it had asked for an 11-month delay of one airplane due this year and three airplanes due next year.  

Airbus also reiterated its intention to reduce the A320 family production rate from an average of 36 to 34 aircraft per month starting in October and that production of the A330/340 family now runs at a rate of 8.5 aircraft per month. “The A350XWB development process continues with full speed,” it added.

“Of course, for example, if it’s necessary to cut production even more, then of course you’ve got to see where the flexibility lies,” said the spokesman.

Finally, the company confirmed its plan to deliver roughly the same number of airplanes it delivered last year, when it set a record by shipping 483 airplanes.

Back

Third 747-8 Freighter Enters Flight Testing March 18, 2010 The third Boeing 747-8 Freighter, RC 521, joined the program’s flight-test program yesterday with a successful two-and-a-half-hour maiden... [more]
NG Aircraft Takes Another Shot at Fokker 100 Revival March 16, 2010 Long-standing efforts to revive the Fokker 100 regional jet could get a boost from a €20 million ($27 million) loan offered by the Dutch... [more]
Air Berlin Slashes Boeing 787 Order March 16, 2010 Germany’s Air Berlin has cut the number of airplanes in its firm order for Boeing 787 Dreamliners from 25 to 15, and the number of options from... [more]
Second Boeing 747-8 Freighter Completes First Flight March 15, 2010 The second Boeing 747-8 Freighter, RC 522, completed its first flight yesterday evening, the company announced today. The airplane took off from... [more]
Fourth 787 Joins Boeing Flight-Test Fleet March 15, 2010 Boeing has added the fourth 787 to its flight-test fleet with yesterday’s first flight of Dreamliner ZA003. The airplane departed Paine Field in... [more]