News
Air France seeks delay on new A380 deliveries
April 12, 2013, Paris, Fra. - Air France-KLM said it is finalising talks with planemaker Airbus about postponing deliveries of the next A380s it has on order by several months as it tries to rein in spending and reduce debt.
April 12, 2013 By Carey Fredericks
The Franco-Dutch carrier operates a fleet of eight of the $400 million superjumbo aircraft, after taking delivery of two more last year, and has a further four on order. The bulk of the agreed price is typically paid on receipt of the planes.
"Discussions are still in progress with Airbus to define new dates regarding deliveries of the next A380s still on order," Air France-KLM said in its latest annual registration document.
Air France-KLM is seeking to return to profit and cut debt by 2 billion euros ($2.6 billion) by the end of next year after being battered by soaring fuel costs, a worsening cargo business and tough competition from Gulf and low-cost carriers.
The carrier said in its registration document that it had cancelled an option "which could no longer be extended" to buy an A380 last year and again postponed the delivery of one Boeing 777-300ER by a year.
The airline said it had also agreed with the planemakers to delay deliveries of three Airbus A320s and one Boeing 777-300.
An Air France-KLM spokeswoman said the airline was finalising talks with Airbus to delay delivery of its ninth A380 until September this year from an unspecified date and its 10th until April 2014 from 2013.
The other two, due in 2014, would come at an unspecified later date, she said, confirming comments made on newspaper La Tribune's website.
Airbus has said it is aiming to sell around 30 A380s this year. It said in January that it expected to produce 25 of the superjumbos in 2013, and it delivered four A380s in the first quarter.
Air France-KLM added that discussions were still ongoing with Airbus and engine supplier Rolls-Royce to finalise an order for Airbus A350s.
The carrier placed the provisional $7 billion order for 25 wide-bodied A350-900 passenger jets in September 2011 at the same time as ordering 25 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, a deal which has since been confirmed.
