Airbus trims A380 delivery forecast for 2010; expects annual record of more than 500 deliveries
Airbus stated it delivered 18 A380s in 2010, below its initial target of 20 (Reuters/AFP, 30-Dec-2010). Airbus added that the planned delivery of a 19th A380 this year to Qantas will slip into the "first weeks of January". The shortfall reflects the time taken for checks on Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines following the Qantas A380 engine problem that emerged in early Nov-2010. Airbus still expects to deliver a new annual record of more than 500 aircraft overall this year. Airbus CEO Tom Enders stated he remain's upbeat about the manufacturer's 2010 performance in terms of deliveries and orders, commenting: "Overall, 2010 has been a good year, with a better-than-expected market recovery with, again, record commercial deliveries and an order intake which will be at least 50 percent higher than we expected it to be at the beginning of the year."