On Track For October Delivery To Singapore Airlines

Airbus says it's untangled the 300 miles of wiring that it claimed caused the latest program delays for the superjumbo. The complex wiring issues resulted from Airbus' promise its customers could customize entertainment systems for each aircraft.

Company spokesman Rolf Brandt says workers at Airbus' Hamburg, Germany plant worked extra shifts to sort the problems out, and now they've got all the crimps, connectors and cables in the right places.

"That was an important step to make up for lost ground," Brandt said, adding that the first of the double-decker jets would be handed over to Singapore Airlines in October.

That's good news for the beleaguered airline who recently announced an operating loss for the year despite nearly 500 aircraft deliveries. The loss is directly related to an A380 program nearly two years behind schedule.

Last week, Airbus chief executive Louis Gallois said the firm was "determined to complete this first delivery in October 2007, as we announced, and to prepare ourselves for the next deliveries in 2008".

Singapore Airlines is the launch customer for the behemoth, 550+ passenger A380 -- it has orders for 19. Other early customers include Thai Airways, Virgin and Qantas.

Meanwhile, more fallout resulting from the company's yet-to-be-officially-announced restructuring plan. A Financial Times article says 13,000 jobs in the UK may be under threat according to Airbus vice president Tom Williams. Williams hinted at the "risk" Airbus may shift a $197 million contract to build A350 wings to Germany or Spain -- perhaps a Airbus is less concerned with UK jobs afterBAE decided to dump it's EADS stock?

Airbus' A350XWB is the planemaker's response to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner scheduled for first deliveries in 2008. Airbus parent EADS just approved development and production for the medium-range A350XWB just last month -- it's first deliveries will be nearly five years behind the Dreamliner.

FMI: www.airbus.com