Airbus suffers further A380 delay
Airbus has cut its forecast for deliveries of the A380 in 2010 for the second time this month, after the emergency landing of a Qantas airliner in November led to delays and an investigation.
The European aerospace giant had an initially aimed to deliver 20 A380s this year, but has so far delivered only 18. It had planned delivery of a 19th aircraft but this will now be shifted back to January, an Airbus spokesman confirmed.
An A380 flown by Australian airline Qantas was forced to make an emergency landing on November 4 when one of its four Rolls Trent 900 engines exploded.
A report concluded that the explosion was likely to have been caused by a “manufacturing defect” in an oil pipe.
The shortfall for 2010 deliveries of the A380 superjumbo reflects the time taken for checks on Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines similar to the one that exploded mid-air, Airbus said.
ADVERTISEMENT