Airbus A380 sales slide, adds new operations in India

Slow sales won’t slow down Airbus, who has said it will not abandon its A380 jumbo jet program.

According to eTurbonews, its chief executive told Les Echos newspaper it needs more time to decide whether to redesign its engines, something Emirates Airline had requested.

A major customer for Airbus, Emirates leads the way in purchasing the A380 jets, with 140 orders, and has been pushing for an engine revamp for the plane.

The move, according to eTurbonews, could lower the number of seats airlines must sell to break even.

Airbus CEO Fabrice Bregier appeared to snub the request, based on his interview with Les Echos, which was published online on Sunday.

“We are already working on ways to make the A380 more attractive economically by adding seats while preserving the amazing comfort of the plane,” he said.

“Long-term, the question will be how to improve its performance by working on aerodynamics and motorization. But we will not do that until a good business plan can be found. That is not the case now and we have no intention to spend indiscriminately.”

In reports from Chron, Airbus says its ready for a new venture in manufacturing helicopters, satellites and military transport planes in India.

The announcement was made on Saturday, and according to Chron, Airbus Group’s CEO Tom Enders said in a statement they are ready to manufacture not just for India, but for the world.

Enders added the manufacturing would include final assembly lines and supply chains, although the company didn’t give details of potential expansion in India, where it currently has engineering centres and a research facility.

The announcement comes after Indian PM Narendra Modi visited Airbus headquarters in France, with Modi’s visit also resulting in contracts in energy, transport and space exploration, and an announcement of plans to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets.

According to eTurbonews, Bregier said the A380 program would break even by the end of the year, and that Airbus expected it would maintain its financial status.

On Airbus’ other new relatively new model, the A350, Bregier was reported saying that Qatar Airways has seen no issues with the plane after two months of service.

Airbus is hoping to deliver approximately 15 A350s this year, eventually cranking it up to 10 per month by 2018.

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