Delays in the production of the A380 super-jumbo contributed to a $750 million loss at Airbus in 2006, according to figures released today by its aerospace parent company, EADS.
Airbus has been hit by delays to production of its new A380 – blamed mainly on difficulties installing wiring – a costly redesign of a future mid-sized plane, the A350, and a weak dollar that favours US rival Boeing.
Middle East-based Qatar Airways, Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways are all major customers for the A380.
Thousands of Airbus workers went on strike at its French factories on Tuesday, protesting against the European planemaker’s restructuring plan that has dominated France’s presidential election campaign.
Addressing the plunge in earnings at Airbus, EADS said working out wiring woes on the A380 superjumbo including paying airlines compensation for its delay had cost 2.5 billion euros, while its mooted A350 model, the subject of two years of design changes, had cost it 500 million euros.
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