Chew Chong Seng Blasts Late A380 Deliveries

The pilots are ready. The cabin crews are ready. The runway is ready. So where the hell are Singapore Airlines' Airbus A380s?

That, in essence, is the question from Singapore Air's CEO, Chew Chong Seng, who had a few arrows to sling at the French-based aircraft manufacturer.

"I would have liked more honesty," Chew told the Asian newsmagazine Focus. His mammoth A380s won't arrive in March, as he had expected. Instead, they're now slated to be delivered in November, 2006.

"Airbus took quite a long time to admit that the A380 program was behind schedule," he told the magazine.

As a result of the delay, Chew said airline planning had been severely disrupted and that he would now have to keep at least some of his aging Boeing 747s in service longer than planned.

What's the point of all the moaning? As ANN reported in June, delays will cost Airbus dearly. Its contracts with airlines like Chew's call for stiff penalties if the super jumbo jets aren't delivered as promised.

"It's like a taxi ride: the longer the journey, the more expensive it gets. Every month makes it more expensive for Airbus," Chew told Focus. Only, if Chew has his way, the driver will pay him for being late.

FMI: www.airbus.com