Tue, Jan 23, 2007
On Track For October Delivery To Singapore Airlines
Airbus says it's untangled the 300 miles of
wiring that it claimed caused the latest program
delays for the superjumbo. The complex wiring issues resulted from
Airbus' promise its customers could customize entertainment systems
for each aircraft.
Company spokesman Rolf Brandt says workers at Airbus' Hamburg,
Germany plant worked extra shifts to sort the problems out, and now
they've got all the crimps, connectors and cables in the right
places.
"That was an important step to make up for lost ground," Brandt
said, adding that the first of the double-decker jets would be
handed over to Singapore Airlines in October.
That's good news for the beleaguered airline who recently
announced an operating loss for the year despite nearly 500
aircraft deliveries. The loss is directly related to an A380
program nearly two years behind schedule.
Last week, Airbus chief executive Louis Gallois said the firm
was "determined to complete this first delivery in October 2007, as
we announced, and to prepare ourselves for the next deliveries in
2008".
Singapore Airlines is the launch customer for the behemoth, 550+
passenger A380 -- it has orders for 19. Other early customers
include Thai Airways, Virgin and Qantas.
Meanwhile, more fallout resulting from the company's
yet-to-be-officially-announced restructuring plan. A Financial
Times article says 13,000 jobs in the UK may be under threat
according to Airbus vice president Tom Williams.
Williams hinted at the "risk" Airbus may shift a $197 million
contract to build A350 wings to Germany or Spain -- perhaps a
Airbus is less concerned with UK jobs afterBAE decided to dump it's EADS
stock?
Airbus' A350XWB is the planemaker's response to Boeing's 787
Dreamliner scheduled for first deliveries in 2008. Airbus parent
EADS just approved development and production for the medium-range
A350XWB just last month -- it's first deliveries will be nearly
five years behind the Dreamliner.
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