Company Watch - Qantas Airways.

Oct 9, 2006

Airbus A380 customer Qantas' CFO Peter Gregg said the Australian carrier is "disappointed" with the delay and has commenced a review of its capacity needs. He said it expects to take four A380s in the second half of 2008 and hopes to have seven by mid-2009, but told reporters that Airbus will not be able to catch up on the delivery schedule, meaning that Qantas's 12th and final aircraft also will be two years late. Qantas has been considering the 777 and 747-8 for some time. Oct 5, 2006

Australia's Qantas Airways said it would not receive its first A380 until August 2008, two years late. It expects to receive four of the planes by the end of that year and seven by mid-2009.In the meantime it said it was reviewing its capacity needs. Qantas did not rule out canceling the A380 order. JP Morgan analyst Matt Crowe said while Qantas might consider scrapping the superjumbo order, it was unlikely to do so. Qantas's Borghetti declined to comment on whether the airline would claim further damages from Airbus on top of the AUD$104 million (USD$77 million) it already expects to receive. Qantas's comments echoed statements on Tuesday from Virgin Atlantic Airways and Dubai airline Emirates, the biggest buyer with an order for 43 superjumbos worth USD$13 billion at list prices. Oct 4, 2006

Editor: Aram Gesar, eMail: [e-mail]

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Oct 2, 2006