Airbus expects surge in orders for A380

The aircraft maker Airbus expects despite the damage to his image crack-ridden flagship A380 with a new surge in orders.

"It is not easy, but we want to collect this year, orders for 30 A380," Airbus sales chief John Leahy said on Thursday in Toulouse - a good six weeks before the big air show in Farnborough. In the new long-haul A350 Leahy holds this magnitude to be realistic. On the mass market of medium-range aircraft, he sees the power of rival Boeing broke 60 percent market share to Airbus are permanently available.

Where do the new jobs for the double-decker A380, should not be said Leahy. The airline Emirates, which had ordered 90 copies and in some cases has been in operation in December made ​​a further order in view. A380 Marketing Director Richard Carcaillet also hinted that the airline Cathay Pacific could sign an order. With the companies from Hong Kong Airbus negotiated for several years. For the A380, the manufacturer has about 180 orders on the books. This year, 30 of the double-decker aircraft left the factory buildings. However, plans to slow down the wing parts production.

Overall, Airbus plans to collect this year, over 570 gross orders for aircraft - more than this year will be built. Of which were achieved after the first four months only 112 - and at the same time conceding 17 cancellations. Typically, many deals will be announced on the major air shows. Is close to London from the 9th July the Farnborough Air Show at.

It was not until 2013, the crack-prone mounting brackets are replaced in the wings of the A380 aircraft delivered to date by 74 newly developed parts of another metal alloy. According to program director Tom Williams make each jet by about 90 kilograms heavier.

In new machines, the new parts are installed before 2014 - all others must again after delivery for repair. Only usually in the current year, the problem the group is expected 260 million euros - plus 105 million from last year and further charges 2013th

"We thought we had the technology under control," said Airbus CEO Tom Enders. Now, the problem would cost Airbus' money and reputation, "said the manager, who aufrückt soon at the head of parent company EADS. From the problems of the A380 you have learned a lot - especially about the combination of conventional and novel materials. This should also benefit the development of the A350.

The new high-tech aircraft such errors should not happen. The A350 will have 53 percent of carbon fiber composites. 2013, the first A350-machine to take off, early to mid-2014 is the delivery of the first jets provided. The schedule is still "challenging," EADS was CFO Hans Peter Ring says only a few days. How quickly ramping up production, Airbus wants to say yet. 548 orders have already been received, from 2018 to ten copies each month to leave the assembly lines.

At the same time, Airbus is the production of similarly sized, conventional long-haul A330 aircraft further. Both aircraft to compete with the Boeing models 777 and 787, nicknamed the "Dreamliner" and carries the A350 consists largely of composite materials. "Since the announcement of 787 in 2004, we have sold more A330s than ever before," said Leahy. The upcoming Airbus chief Fabrice Brégier expects the model in the coming decade, still good business.

In the medium-range planes Leahy looks at the success of the Airbus A320neo the cards in the competition for the rival Boeing 737 newly mixed, "Boeing can keep the current market allocation of 50 to 50 only if they squander their powerful 737 with rebates."

Last year, Airbus had its U.S. rival set with the A320neo in a tight spot: It was not until the Europeans within a few months, orders for more than 1,000 copies of the trimmed to save fuel "neo" waved chose Boeing, the 737 under the name 737-MAX also make new engines with more fuel efficient. Each of the manufacturers now claims to be renewed model has the lowest operating costs.

Airbus in orders to date is far in front, 2011 was the market share of Europeans in the segment at 70 percent. The medium-range jets get through the lowest profit margins, however, make the world from about 70 percent of the aircraft market. Leahy expects the contract to continue dancing for the A320 family. China alone is expected this year, the manager orders for more than 100 medium-haul jets.