17 November 2009

Airbus A380 programme under review

AMSTERDAM Ã¢â¬' In reporting its nine months results for 2009, the European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Company (EADS) says it has been successful in its efforts to prudently manage operations and backlog Ã¢â¬Åâœin a currently challenging business environmentÃ¢â¬~.

In its report, EADS said the A380 programme in 2009 has faced both continuing production instability and customer requests for delivery postponements.

Progress on the A380 is slower than expected, it admitted.

As a result, the A380 production plan is under review and a couple of deliveries for year-end will likely shift into early 2010.

A lower level of commercial activity is reflected in the net order intake for Airbus aircraft.

Fifty nine new firm gross orders were booked in the third quarter, Ã¢â¬Åâœdemonstrating a continued demand for new aircraft, albeit at a lower level than last yearÃ¢â¬~, EADS reported.

Cancellations remain at a low level with only 26 recorded in the nine-month period. At the end of September, Airbus had received 149 gross orders (123 net orders) for commercial aircraft (9m 2008: 785 gross orders, 737 net orders).

In October, Airbus delivered its first A380 to a European airline, Air France, which increases the number of operators to four for this aircraft type.