Originally Posted by
EK_Flyer
I was wondering why is it that EK -being the largest A380 customer -is getting such delayed service from Airbus ?
Both Boeing and Airbus are experiencing delays to their new plane programs and both for similar reasons. They are building new planes with new materials and complex manufacturing processes and complex supply relationships (even the 777 has been experiencing delivery delays because of problems delivering the galleys). The Boeing 787 program is also delayed at this point, and I'm not sure where the A350 program is, but it appears to be in slightly better shape than the 787 (probably having learned from the A380 problems).
Originally Posted by
EK_Flyer
I understand that there can be manufacturing and other delays but it's strange how a multi-million dollar product gets so badly delayed and a customer who's order is in excess of a few billion dollars gets shafted like this !
As mentioned above, it's a big complex product, and new to-boot.
Originally Posted by
EK_Flyer
Also given EK's large order why was Singapore Air the launch Airline and seems to be getting it's A380's on time or less delayed ?
Emirates ordered their planes first, but decided not to be the launch customer, SQ agreed to be the launch customer. SQ ordered fewer planes, and as a result, they are less likely to be as affected. By all accounts the delivery of the A340-500 (and 600) was a bit of a botched job, and I suspect Airbus was trying to rebuild its relationship with SQ. Airbus had to go back to the airlines that ordered the planes, and agree re-delivery. Virgin, for example, delayed their deliver until 2013 (I think), but originally in the first delivery tranche.
This is my understanding of the situation, biggest order doesn't mean first - the risk is much higher for Emirates than it is for SQL (I suspect that SQ's planes were deeply discounted). There are also (complex) agreements on marketing for new planes, and as I said, it's not as simple as biggest order = first delivery.