Airbus will miss its 2010 target for A380 deliveries and anticipates further disruptions to its schedule next year as it struggles with the aftermath of a Rolls-Royce engine failure.
The planemaker will hand over 19 of its double-decker passenger jets in 2010, short of the targeted 20, spokesman Stefan Schaffrath said today. Toulouse, France-based Airbus plans to deliver its 18th A380 as early as tomorrow, to Qantas, and will meet the year-end deadline on only one of two other jets.
Airbus is working to resolve "disruptions and complications" to its A380 production line following the explosion of a Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine on an A380 operated by Qantas last month, Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders told employees in a memo last month.
"With the new challenges caused by the Rolls-Royce engine issue, we're now comfortable to deliver 19 planes this year," Schaffrath said by phone.
Airbus had sought to double last year's delivery tally of 10 superjumbos. Parent company European Aeronautic, Defence and Space Co. said last month that 22 had been built and were largely ready to go to customers this year. However, one for Singapore Airlines was held up by problems with seating supplied by Koito Industries, and another to an undisclosed airline was awaiting final clearances for financing, it said.
Sitting on Cash
"The issue is that Airbus is sitting on a big lump of cash with three A380s sitting there and not getting delivered," said Nick Cunningham, managing director at London-based Agency Partners, an investment advisory company. "Even without engines attached it could be $US600 million, $US700 million worth of finished goods sitting there in your back lot over the yearend, which is not what you want."
Airbus's Enders told employees in a memo sent out today that the A380 superjumbo still faces "significant challenges going forward." Rolls-Royce spokesman Josh Rosenstock today declined to comment on deliveries delayed by the Trent 900.
Deliveries of the A380 model, the world's largest passenger aircraft, began in 2007 with one handoff to Singapore Airlines that was two years late because of cabin-wiring faults. The company has spent at least 18 billion euros ($A24 billion) to develop the plane, 50 per cent more than originally projected, and faltered in meeting demands for features such as showers, enclosed suites and custom lighting.
The planemaker started 2009 with a target of 18 A380 deliveries, only to later pare that target several times to finish the year with 10 handovers. Boeing Co. has also suffered setbacks to the introduction of new jets, including the 787.
Customers Waiting
Five airlines that already fly A380s - comprised of Air France-KLM Group, Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, and Lufthansa - are scheduled to get more in 2011. In addition are two new customers, China Southern Airlines and Korean Air Lines. Korean Air is expected to take five A380s in 2011.
Singapore Airlines's 12th Airbus SAS A380 was delayed after Koito Industries failed to deliver business-class seats on time. The airline said the delay isn't affecting current operations and the plane will arrive before the end of March.
The A380 can carry 873 passengers, compared with more than 550 on some flights of Chicago-based Boeing's 747. Like most large planes, the Airbus model is outfitted with fewer seats than the capacity because of space arrangements in premium cabins. The plane has a list price of $US346 million, though airlines get discounts for multiple purchases.
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