Emirates Airline expects Airbus to take a ‘massive write-off’ after the two sides negotiate late charges for delayed deliveries of the Airbus A380 superjumbo, according to ttnworldwide.com.
“I am sure we will come to a compromise, which Airbus will take as a massive write-off,” Emirates president Tim Clark said in a recent issue of magazine Flight International. “We now have a figure, and in the next few weeks we will begin talking.” An Airbus spokesman declined to comment.
Emirates has ordered 43 of the $300 million planes, making it by far the largest buyer of the plane, whose delay has triggered demands for late fees to be paid to carriers, which must make alternative plans until the aircraft arrive.
Trouble with the wiring of the mammoth double-deckers has delayed deliveries by about two years, and Singapore Airlines is now expected to take the first one late this year.
Emirates was originally meant to begin taking the planes in April 2006 but now will not see its first until August 2008.
Emirates is not only a huge customer for the A380 but the airline is also looking to buy as many as 100 mid-sized, long-range planes. Airbus is offering its A350 XWB due in 2013 versus Boeing ‘s due in 2008 for a deal that could be worth $15 billion at list prices.
