Airbus A350XWB Delay Could Reach 12 Months

Airbus has pushed back the planned first flight of the Airbus A350XWB from late 2012 to the first quarter of 2013.

This forward fuselage section of an Airbus A350 awaits the center section. Late deivery of composite skin panels, wing spars and trailing edge assemblies have delayed the program.

By Ian Goold • Senior correspondent

November 12, 2011

Airbus has pushed back the planned first flight of the Airbus A350XWB from late 2012 to the first quarter of 2013. Last Thursday, the European airframer admitted that it has had to revise its production schedule, blaming the slippage on delayed subassemblies being produced by partners in Europe and the U.S., including GKN Aerospace and Spirit Aerosystems.

Entry-into-service (EIS) date for the initial A350-900 variant with launch customer Qatar Airways is now put at sometime in the first half of 2014, rather than during the last two quarters of 2013. Airbus parent company EADS revealed that it has taken a €200 million ($270 million) charge against the late-running program (see story, page 46) in its third-quarter results.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

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