A380 delays Qantas dogfight

By IAN HUGHES

February 21, 2005

STRESS fractures uncovered during testing of the new Airbus A380 mega-plane may delay an upping of the ante in the battle between Qantas and Singapore Airlines for market share.

According to reports from Germany's Der Spiegel magazine, Airbus engineers have failed to iron out problems encountered in stress tests.

There were "unexpected and significant difficulties" with the rear end of the plane when tests were carried out on it, the magazine quoted an insider as saying.

The landing gear is also causing engineers concern, the magazine reported, adding that the A380's first flight in March could be delayed by weeks.

An Airbus spokesman said however that the stress tests were heading in the right direction within the company's expectations, Der Spiegel said.