Engine Problems Spotted On New Super Jumbo

Already beset by production delays that have Asian customers threatening to invoke contract penalty clauses, Airbus says it's been forced to delay the A380's tour of Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.

"At the request of Rolls-Royce, as a precautionary measure, two Trent 900 engines are being replaced on A380 number one," Airbus said in a statement to Aero-News.

If you're Singapore Airlines, what do you say under the circumstances?

"Airbus and Rolls-Royce have made us aware of the technical issues that will lead to the visit of the A380 being deferred by a few days," SIA spokesman Stephen Fornshaw told The Straits Times. "Knowing that the aircraft is in its testing phase, the deferral is for prudent reasons."

The A380 is slated to make its first Asian stop in Singapore, where Singapore Airlines anxiously awaits the first of its ten Super Jumbos. Originally scheduled to head for Malaysia after that, the A380 tour will now divert to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to mark the 85th birthday of Qantas. The Australian national carrier has signed on for an even dozen of the 555-passenger, four-engine jets. The first of those is expected to arrive in 2007.

FMI: www.airbus.com