EADS sees challenges in A350 schedule
Published 9:57 am Friday, November 12, 2010
EADS is acknowledging a minor slide in the schedule of its new A350 XWB program more than two years before the jet is to be delivered.
EADS is the parent company of Boeing’s rival, Airbus.
In its earnings call today, EADS said that it no longer expects to meet the mid-2013 delivery date of its A350 XWB. Instead, delivery of Airbus’ composite plane will take place in the later half of 2013.
Given the recent troubles with the Rolls-Royce engines for the A380, Airbus expects delivery disruptions in its super jumbo jet program.
On the positive side for Airbus, EADS said it expects Airbus will deliver about 500 aircraft this year. It also has raised its expectations for new aircraft orders for 2010 to 500 from 400. Through the end of October, Airbus had delivered 417 aircraft and had received 369 net orders.
