newstodate.aero
Oct 23, 2006 (newstodate): From 240 to 420: a simple change in position of figures translates into millions of US dollars for troubled aircraft maker Airbus.
In the earlier break-even analysis for the A380 sales, 240 aircraft sold marked the borderline to success.
The break-even point has now been revised to 420 aircraft sold, reflecting the situation after three subsequent revisions of the delivery schemes due to continued production problems and compensations to airline customers.
Based on the current delivery scheme, Singapore Airlines will still be the first to fly the A380 from October, 2007, followed by Qantas and Emirates from August 2008, Air France from Q2 2009, and Lufthansa from May 2009.
FedEx will receive its first A380 freighter by "early 2009", and UPS will have to wait till May 2910.
But there may still be more bad news to come as several A380 customers are reportedly reconsidering their fleet acquisition plans.
In the earlier break-even analysis for the A380 sales, 240 aircraft sold marked the borderline to success.
The break-even point has now been revised to 420 aircraft sold, reflecting the situation after three subsequent revisions of the delivery schemes due to continued production problems and compensations to airline customers.
Based on the current delivery scheme, Singapore Airlines will still be the first to fly the A380 from October, 2007, followed by Qantas and Emirates from August 2008, Air France from Q2 2009, and Lufthansa from May 2009.
FedEx will receive its first A380 freighter by "early 2009", and UPS will have to wait till May 2910.
But there may still be more bad news to come as several A380 customers are reportedly reconsidering their fleet acquisition plans.