Airbus has been forced to abandon a flying display by the A380 super jumbo at the Paris Air Show this week.
During ground manoeuvers with the A380 flight test aircraft MSN 004, the aircraft’s right hand wing tip touched a structure near a taxiway at Le Bourget airport.
Airbus, after inspecting the aircraft, confirmed that the A380 would not perform the flying display at the air show.
It wasn’t a great start to the Paris Air Show for Airbus as bragging rights are at stake in Paris this week. Both Boeing and Airbus have been reeling off orders for their aircraft, one of the biggest being that by Qatar Airways for six Boeing 777-300ERs.
Emirates is expected to save the announcement of its new aircraft orders for the Dubai air show later in the year.
Better news for Airbus is that the first A380 for China Southern Airlines has been rolled out of the paint shop in Hamburg.
The aircraft is the first of five A380s ordered by the airline.
China Southern Airlines will become the seventh operator of the A380 when it takes delivery of its first aircraft in the second half of this year.
