Airbus SAS, the world’s largest maker of commercial aircraft, delivered 10 A380s in 2009, one short of its target and fewer than last year, as the company struggles to customize the double- decker plane for airlines.
Airbus shipped 12 of the superjumbos last year and initially planned to deliver 21 in 2009, then lowered the forecast four times. The number of handovers this year was compiled by surveying airline customers, and Airbus confirmed the figure Wednesday.
“The two big issues for Airbus on A380 are making them on cost and on time, and then finding enough paying passengers to fill them,” said Nick Cunningham, an analyst at Evolution Securities in London.
Deliveries of the model, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, began in 2007 with one handoff to Singapore Airlines Ltd. after Airbus ran about two years late because of difficulty with cabin wiring. The company has spent at least $26 billion to develop the A380, 50 percent more than originally projected, and is faltering in meeting demands for features such as showers and suites.
Louis Gallois, CEO of the European Aeronautic, Defence and Space Co., Airbus’ parent, had said this month that 11 of the planes would probably be handed over this year and costs remain too high.
Airbus’ delivery plan for 2010 calls for “about 20” A380s, Stefan Schaffrath, a spokesman for the Toulouse, France-based manufacturer, said Wednesday.
Bloomberg News
