Regional Round-Up
Wing crack repairs could cost EUR 500 million
June 1st 2012
Airbus parent, European Aeronautics, Defence and Space Co. NV (EADS), has taken a €158 million (US$197.2 million) charge against fixing the cracks developed in the wing rib feet of the A380 superjumbo, bringing the total charge so far to €263 million. Read More »
The latest charge covers 71 in-service A380s, in addition to around 30 A380s expected to be delivered this year. The cracking developed when the production process exerted pressure on the non-engineering load bearing A380 wing feet rib at its Broughton, UK facility.
“The good news is that we have fully understood the root causes, we have proposed and decided internally on a final fix and repair. It’ll keep us busy for a couple of years likely,” said EADS chief financial officer, Hans Peter Ring.
The first modification kit will be available from the first quarter of 2013 once approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Airbus said it expects to deliver 120 aircraft that requires modifications before the first A380 aircraft with the fix installed will be delivered in 2014. The total cost of fixing the issue could reach €500 million.
