Airbus stops work on freight version of superjumbo

Financially-troubled European aeroplane manufacturer Airbus has stopped work on the freight version of its new A380 superjumbo, a spokesman for its parent company said today.

Michael Hauger, spokesman for the European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co, said the freight version of the A380 remains an important of its programme, but that the company had decided to concentrate on the passenger version at the moment.

“The work on the freight version of the A380 has just been temporarily cut off…so that all capacities can be directed at the A380 passenger version,” he said.

There is a new development schedule for the freight version A380F, he said, adding that the company sees sales potential for 400 models of the A380 freight aircraft in the next 20 years.

Toulouse, France-based Airbus is struggling to survive the crippling fallout from a two-year delay to the A380 and the weaker US dollar, in which the planes are priced.

Airbus has said it plans to shed 4,300 jobs in France, 3,700 in Germany, 1,600 in Britain and 400 in Spain over four years.

Last week, United Parcel Service Inc. decided to postpone taking delivery on the A380 freight version.

It was the last remaining customer the freightliner, and said it would decide later this year whether to move ahead with a plan to purchase 10 of the jets or cancel the order completely.

UPS originally ordered the 10 jets in January 2005, with options to buy 10 more in a deal valued at roughly €2.1bn at list prices.

Airbus spokeswoman Ann de Crozals said the decision to postpone work on the A380F came after the UPS decision.

“Following the rescheduling with UPS, development work on the A380F has been interrupted but the programme is still ongoing,” de Crozals said. “It’s not a decision to stop the programme.”

De Crozals said no date had been set for work to resume. “That’s not defined yet,” she said.

FedEx Corp. cancelled its order for 10 A380s in November, saying Airbus’ production problems were threatening its international expansion plans. Instead, it ordered 15 Boeing 777 freighters and options for 15 more in a deal valued at about €2.6bn at list prices.