Airbus says A380F development 'interrupted' by UPS cancellation, but still on offer.

Flight International ^ | 5 March 2007 | Staff

[lowbuck]

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is describing the status of its A380 freighter aircraft as “interrupted”, but says the variant remains on offer.

Its last remaining customer for the aircraft, US cargo operator UPS, earlier today announced its intention to cancel its order for 10 aircraft. It cited concerns about Airbus’s ability to adhere to its new delivery schedule for the aircraft – revised to start in 2012 – after learning the manufacturer is diverting employees from the A380 freighter programme to work on the passenger version of the aircraft.

The manufacturer had earlier said the rescheduling of UPS deliveries opened a “window of opportunity” for development teams to work on the passenger variant of the aircraft, but stressed the programme had not been suspended.

Airbus says: “Airbus is disappointed at the decision, however we respect the airline’s decision which is consistent with the agreement we reached last week. UPS remains a valuable customer and strong customer and business partner of Airbus.”

The manufacturer reiterates that while the freighter development programme has been “interrupted”, the variant remains on offer: “We are confident about the size of the cargo market for the A380F. When the market is there we will resume the programme,” says a spokeswoman.

[lowbuck]

"UPS remains a valuable customer and strong customer and business partner of Airbus."

Let's see, rework the delivery agreement and then get caught moving your engineers to the Pax A/C by your "valued customer" who then cancels because "he doubts your commitment to your new commitment".

I too am sure that UPS remains a strong custmer and business partner of Airbus, NOT.

[CWOJackson]

“We are confident about the size of the cargo market for the A380F. When the market is there we will resume the programme."

By then conventional aircraft will long be a thing of the past.

[garyhope]

It's starting to look like all of Airbus's future is going to be "interrupted"

[mitchbert]

What strikes me as odd is the primary reason Airbus is giving for the delays is wiring problems with the in-flight entertainment system, which I suspect would be a non-factor in a freighter. Could there be more to this story and their explanation is incomplete? Heck, build and deliver the freighters and the passenger fuselages and work the problem in the meantime. Very suspicious to me but others might know better.

[donmeaker]

They kind of screwed the Pooch on their landing gear design. That has been fixed, but the cost and delay caused the company to try to cut corners elsewhere, and so they were caught cheating.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Airbust is going to hell in a hand basket.Been watching these post for sometime and the news just aint gettin no betta

[Wally_Kalbacken]

It must suck to be Airbus!

[Proud_USA_Republican]

"but stressed the programme had not been suspended".

There are now 0 orders for this plane. It doesn't get more suspended than that.

[kylaka]

Well, Jacks package service in Dubuque Iowa ought to be ready for a few A-380's around 2075. Then again, maybe not.

[lowbuck]

I think the more important point about the freighter project being put on the back burner was best explained by another FReeper. He pointed out that the (IIRC) 380-9 needed the wing and beefed up landing gear that was being designed for the 380F.

Thus, stopping development now, moves out to the future the ability of Airbus to actually give the customer's the long, long range PAX version. I do not think this issue is lost on the potential customers who want a real "family" of 380's and not just one or two models.