Hundreds Of Millions For Airbus A 380 Repairs
March 19, 2012 by Douglas A. McIntyre
The cracked wing problems which Airbus faces on its A 380 super-jumbo are just beginning. The manufacturer’s vice president Tom Williams told Spiegel that “The problem will keep us busy for years.” He estimates the total costs of repairs and special maintenance on the planes will be in the hundreds of millions of euros. Since it appears that the entire fleet of the planes has been affects, that estimate may be low. The comments are also a red flag about Boeing’s (NYSE: BA) problems with its 787 Dreamliner which has had structural issues as well. Some carriers have asked for compensation for the late delivery of the 787. Those same firms may seek more payment for repairs. Boeing’s issues with the 787 could be only at their beginning if they are at all similar to those of the A 380.
