Airbus A350 schedule reportedly sliding

27/08/10 18:05 CET

corporate

| |

Airbus is being coy in response to a report that it has cut production targets for its newest plane – the A350.

A French newspaper quoted Airbus sub-contractors as saying it will produce the planes at a slower pace than originally planned, building 10 of them in the first year of production compared to a previous target of 18.

An Airbus spokesman declined to comment on that and the planemaker’s Chief Operating Officer John Leahy would only say: “I am very comfortable that we will meet all our customer delivery commitments.”

Meanwhile its US rival Boeing has pushed back delivery of its first 787 Dreamliner by several weeks.

It said that was due to a delay in the availability of a Rolls-Royce engine needed for final flight testing.

Boeing now expects to deliver the carbon-composite plane to its first customer – Japan’s All Nippon Airways – early next year.

The 787 is already more than two years behind schedule.

More about: Airbus, Airlines, Boeing

| |

Greek leaders strike deal on bailout reforms

Greece’s coalition party leaders have reached a deal on tough austerity measures to keep the country afloat, the office of Prime Minister Lucas Papademos said in a statement. The agreement should ensure Greece receives a fresh bailout of…