But How Much Of It Is Posturing?

One day after publicly announcing the latest 10-month delay to strike its A380 superjumbo program, Airbus is taking more hits... from both customers and the market.

As the planemaker struggles to reorganize and get its super-sized A380 into production... its disappointed customers aren't pulling any punches in voicing their angst. Even a contrite statement from the company wasn't enough to keep many carriers from going on record, and stating they are seriously considering either modifying their orders... or dumping them outright.

As Aero-News reported, many A380 customers are getting antsy... or so it seems. Emirates -- by far the largest A380 buyer, with 45 jets on order -- considers the delay "serious."

"The company is now reviewing all its options," Emirates president Tim Clark said.

Meanwhile, Australia's Qantas is reviewing its operations, as the lack of A380s puts a serious crimp on the airline's planned capacity expansion over the next two years. Qantas CFO Peter Gregg stopped short of speculating the airline would cancel its orders, however.

"That would be a major step for us," he told The Herald. "We've spent a lot of money on training people."

In a move likely to be met by other carriers, Korean Airlines said it plans to seek compensation for the delay. The carrier did not give explicit details... but any such discounts, or other compensation, would come on top of price breaks already given by Airbus for the previous two delays... and it's unclear how much more Airbus will be able to take off the pricetag.

Which brings up an interesting point. Despite all the belly aching -- much of which is likely justified -- ultimately, the A380 delays may benefit the very carriers making the most noise. After all.. it's quite possible they might end up with some rather inexpensive jets, either from Airbus... or from rival Boeing, which is no doubt watching the situation VERY closely, and analyzing what kind of price breaks it can offer for its upcoming 747-8 Intercontinental.

The Intercontinental is scheduled to take flight in 2010... around the time Airbus expects production to be ramped up on the A380. That may mean early A380 customers, such as Singapore Airlines, will chose to stick it out with Airbus... but customers who expected their planes to be delivered later may opt out.

Parent company EADS pegs total losses for the company at around $8 billion. And that's hurt in the market, too... as EADS stock prices dropped over seven-percent in the markets Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Airbus acknowledged Tuesday it's likely to get worse before it gets better... but stressed that it WILL get better.

FMI: www.airbus.com