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Ready to deliver
01 September 2007
The difficulties in the later stages of the A380's development have had far-reaching effects on Airbus and its parent company. But the manufacturer remains optimistic, writes Geoff Hearn.
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Airbus
A380
Despite receiving joint European Aviation Safety Agency and Federal Aviation Administration type certification in December, the image of the A380 has been tarnished by a series of delays. The entry into service, which will be on the route between Singapore and Sydney on October 25, has slipped by about 18 months from the original plan.
The first public sign that all was not well with the A380 programme was the announcement in late-2005 of a six-month delay to initial deliveries of the Airbus flagship. There were difficulties with installing the aircraft's wiring. The problems were supposedly well known at a working level, but apparently had not been communicated to corporate management or to those responsible for airline customer relations.
However, after a period of licking its wounds, Airbus is upbeat and says: "The subsequent aircraft for delivery to Singapore Airlines, as well as those destined for Emirates Airlines and Qantas,...
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