Airbus A400 Delayed
October 17, 2007
EADS, Airbus' parent company, said Wednesday that slow progress in the development of computer software for controlling the A400's engine would delay the military transport plane's delivery by at least six months and possibly as much as one year.
The first A400Ms -- giant, four-engine turboprop planes -- to the French air force "are now expected to start six months later than initially planned with a risk of a further slippage of up to a half year," the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company said in a statement.
The company said the changes in the schedule would affect A400M deliveries to both European and other nations. The plane is now due to makes its first flight in the middle of 2008, according to EADS.
Financial impact to be announced soon
The A400M is Europe's largest military industrial project and was launched by seven countries in May 2003.
Germany has ordered 60 planes, France 50, Spain 27, Britain 25, Turkey 10, Belgium 7 and Luxembourg 1, AFP news agency reported.
EADS has already written a provision of 352 million euros ($498 million) into its accounts to deal with the delays and would address the delay's complete financial impact in an upcoming earnings release.
The A400 was developed at twice cost of the A380 and, according to contract, delivery delays will prompt automatic penalties, Reuters reported.
Confirmation of the A400 setback came just days after the European plane maker was able to celebrate the delivery of its A380 superjumbo -- the world's largest passenger plane -- to Singapore Airlines more than a year behind schedule.