/world business
PARIS, France (AP) -- Airbus on Tuesday announced new delays on deliveries of the superjumbo A380 this year and next, saying it needs more time and resources to get the planes ready.
The A380 has faced production delays.
The European aircraft maker said in a statement Tuesday that it will deliver 12 planes in 2008 instead of 13, and 21 planes in 2009 instead of 25. It said deliveries for 2010 will be discussed with customers in the coming weeks.
The A380, the world's biggest passenger plane, was plagued by production delays that repeatedly pushed back the delivery of the first jet to Singapore Airlines last year.
Airbus said it will take more time to determine the financial impact of the revised delivery schedule and the extent of additional costs. The company could have to pay penalties to airline customers for any aircraft delivered later than agreed.
The company is trying to switch over from individual production of the planes to serial production. Airbus said time and resources needed for individual production were "higher than expected," causing delays to the changeover.
Airbus, which is owned by European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co., has delivered four A380s to Singapore Airlines so far, and 17 more are in various stages of production.
EADS is to release first-quarter earnings Wednesday.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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