Editing Airbus A380 (section)

===Production and delivery delays===
[[File:Second floor.A-380 (4020687953).jpg|thumb|Bare cabin for flight tests with water tanks as ballast]]

Initial production of the A380 was troubled by delays attributed to the {{convert|530|km|mi|abbr=on}} of wiring in each aircraft. Airbus cited as underlying causes the complexity of the cabin wiring (98,000 wires and 40,000 connectors), its concurrent design and production, the high degree of customisation for each airline, and failures of [[configuration management]] and [[change control]].<ref name="eads_airbus_forecast_20061019">{{cite web|title=The A380 programme|last=Heinen|first=Mario|publisher=EADS|url=http://www.eads.com/xml/content/OF00000000400004/0/74/41485740.pdf|date=19 October 2006|access-date=19 October 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061103062416/http://www.eads.com/xml/content/OF00000000400004/0/74/41485740.pdf|archive-date=3 November 2006}}</ref><ref name="wiring">{{Cite news|last=Kingsley-Jones|first=Max|title=The race to rewire the Airbus A380|work=Flight International|date=18 July 2006|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/07/18/207894/farnborough-first-news-the-race-to-rewire-the-airbus.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012015906/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/07/18/207894/farnborough-first-news-the-race-to-rewire-the-airbus.html|archive-date=12 October 2007|access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> The German and Spanish Airbus facilities continued to use [[CATIA]] version&nbsp;4, while British and French sites migrated to version&nbsp;5.<ref name="wiringdetailed">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/11/business/worldbusiness/11iht-airbus.3860198.html|title=The Airbus saga: Crossed wires and a multibillion-euro delay|work=International Herald Tribune|first=Nicola|last=Clark|date=6 November 2006|access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> This caused overall configuration management problems, at least in part because wire harnesses manufactured using [[Aluminum wire|aluminium]] rather than copper conductors necessitated special design rules including non-standard dimensions and bend radii; these were not easily transferred between versions of the software.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cadalyst.com/cad/product-design/what-grounded-airbus-a380-10903 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826172720/http://www.cadalyst.com/cad/product-design/what-grounded-airbus-a380-10903 |archive-date=26 August 2009 |url-status=dead |title=What Grounded the Airbus A380? |publisher=Cadalyst Manufacturing |author=Kenneth Wong |date=6 December 2006 |access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> File conversion tools were initially developed by Airbus to help solve this problem; however, the digital mock-up was still unable to read the full technical design data.<ref name="Dörfler 197–214">{{Cite book |last=Dörfler |first=Isabel |title=Learning from a Drastic Failure: The Case of the Airbus A380 Program |publisher=ABINGDON: Routledge |pages=197–214}}</ref> Furthermore, organisational culture was also cited as a cause of the production delays. The communication and reporting culture at the time frowned upon delivery of bad news, meaning Airbus was unable to take early actions to mitigate technical and production issues.<ref name="Dörfler 197–214"/>

Airbus announced the first delay in June 2005 and notified airlines that deliveries would be delayed by six months.<ref name="wiringdetailed"/> This reduced the total number of planned deliveries by the end of 2009 from about 120 to 90–100. On 13 June 2006, Airbus announced a second delay, with the delivery schedule slipping an additional six to seven months.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Crane|first=Mary|title=Major turbulence for EADS on A380 delay|work=Forbes|date=6 June 2006|url=https://www.forbes.com/2006/06/14/airbus-eads-boeing-614markets12.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812225215/http://www.forbes.com/2006/06/14/airbus-eads-boeing-614markets12.html|archive-date=12 August 2010|access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> Although the first delivery was still planned before the end of 2006, deliveries in 2007 would drop to only 9 aircraft, and deliveries by the end of 2009 would be cut to 70–80 aircraft. The announcement caused a 26% drop in the share price of Airbus' parent, EADS,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Clark|first=Nicola|title=Airbus delay on giant jet sends shares plummeting|work=International Herald Tribune|date=5 June 2006|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/15/business/15airbus.html|access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> and led to the departure of EADS CEO [[Paul Dupont]], Airbus CEO [[Gustav Humbert]], and A380 programme manager [[Charles Champion]].<ref name="wiringdetailed"/><ref name="management_shuffle">{{Cite news|last=Clark|first=Nicola|title=Airbus replaces chief of jumbo jet project|work=International Herald Tribune|date=4 September 2006|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/04/business/worldbusiness/04iht-airbus.2693593.html|access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> On 3 October 2006, upon completion of a review of the A380 programme, Airbus CEO [[Christian Streiff]] announced a third delay,<ref name="wiringdetailed"/> pushing the first delivery to October 2007, to be followed by 13 deliveries in 2008, 25 in 2009, and the full production rate of 45 aircraft per year in 2010.<ref name="third_delay">{{cite web|title=Airbus confirms further A380 delay and launches company restructuring plan|publisher=Airbus|date=3 October 2006|url=http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/06_10_03_a380_delays_company_restructuring_plan.html|access-date=3 October 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061014212600/http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/06_10_03_a380_delays_company_restructuring_plan.html|archive-date=14 October 2006}}</ref> The delay also increased the earnings shortfall projected by Airbus through 2010 to €4.8&nbsp;billion.<ref name="wiringdetailed"/><ref name="the_times_20061003">{{Cite news|last=Robertson|first=David|title=Airbus will lose €4.8bn because of A380 delays|work=The Times|location=UK|date=3 October 2006|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/airbus-will-lose-48bn-because-of-a380-delays-609q5rkswkp|access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref>

As Airbus prioritised the work on the A380-800 over the A380F,<ref name=Flight16May2006>{{Cite news|title=A380 Freighter delayed as Emirates switches orders|work=Flight International|date=16 May 2006|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/airbus-a380-freighter-delayed-as-emirates-switches-orders-to-passenger-variant/67429.article}}</ref> freighter orders were cancelled by [[FedEx]]<ref name=WaPo8Nov2006>{{Cite news|author=Del Quentin Wilber|title=Airbus bust, Boeing boost|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=8 November 2006|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2006/11/08/airbus-bust-boeing-boost/a3ca18b8-de5f-489e-8f39-c115ec84a6fe/}}</ref><ref name=nytimes8Nov2006>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/business/worldbusiness/08airbus.html|title=FedEx Rescinds Order for Airbus A380s|date=8 November 2006|work=The New York Times|author=Carter Dougherty, Leslie Wayne|location=Frankfurt}}</ref> and [[United Parcel Service]],<ref>{{Cite news|title=UPS cancels Airbus A380 order|work=The New York Times|date=2 March 2007|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/02/business/worldbusiness/02iht-web.0302-airbusclark.4776607.html|access-date=1 November 2012|first=Nicola|last=Clark}}</ref> or converted to A380-800 by Emirates and ILFC.<ref name="ILFC A380F">{{cite web|title=ILFC to defer its Airbus A380 order until at least 2013, ditching freighter variants for passenger configuration|work=Flight International|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/12/04/210965/ilfc-to-defer-its-airbus-a380-order-until-at-least-2013-ditching-freighter-variants-for-passenger.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012135944/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/12/04/210965/ilfc-to-defer-its-airbus-a380-order-until-at-least-2013-ditching-freighter-variants-for-passenger.html|archive-date=12 October 2007|date=4 December 2006|access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> Airbus suspended work on the freighter version, but said it remained on offer,<ref name="a380f_freighterinterrupted">{{cite web|title=Airbus says A380F development 'interrupted'|work=Flight International|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/03/05/212437/airbus-says-a380f-development-interrupted-by-ups-cancellation-but-still-on.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930055358/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/03/05/212437/airbus-says-a380f-development-interrupted-by-ups-cancellation-but-still-on.html|archive-date=30 September 2007 |access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> albeit without a service entry date.<ref name="no-timeline-on-the-a380-freighter">{{cite web|title=Airbus has no timeline on the A380 freighter|work=Flight International|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/03/11/222139/airbus-has-no-timeline-on-the-a380-freighter.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080314184554/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/03/11/222139/airbus-has-no-timeline-on-the-a380-freighter.html|archive-date=14 March 2008|access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> For the passenger version Airbus negotiated a revised delivery schedule and compensation with the 13 customers, all of which retained their orders with some placing subsequent orders, including Emirates,<ref name="Emirates Airlines">{{cite web|title=Emirates Airlines reaffirms commitment to A380 and orders additional four|publisher=Airbus|url=http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/07_05_07_Emirates_additional_A380s.html|access-date=25 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223042521/http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/07_05_07_Emirates_additional_A380s.html |archive-date=23 December 2007}}</ref> Singapore Airlines,<ref name="Singapore Airlines">{{cite web|title=Singapore Airlines boosts Airbus fleet with additional A380 orders|publisher=Airbus|url=http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/06_12_20_Singapore_additional_A380s.html|access-date=25 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228102408/http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/06_12_20_Singapore_additional_A380s.html|archive-date=28 December 2007}}</ref> Qantas,<ref name="Qantas">{{cite web|title=Qantas signs firm order for eight additional A380s|publisher=Airbus|url=http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/06_12_21_qantas_8_more_a380.html|access-date=25 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420065300/http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/06_12_21_qantas_8_more_a380.html|archive-date=20 April 2008}}</ref> Air France,<ref name="Air France">{{cite web|title=Air France to order two additional A380s and 18 A320 Family aircraft|publisher=Airbus|url=http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/news-events-single/detail/air-france-to-order-two-additional-a380s-and-18-a320-family-aircraft/|access-date=7 June 2011|archive-date=24 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124094647/http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/news-events-single/detail/air-france-to-order-two-additional-a380s-and-18-a320-family-aircraft/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Qatar Airways,<ref name="Qatar">{{cite web|title=Qatar Airways confirms order for 80 A350 XWBs and adds three A380s|publisher=Airbus|url=http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/07_06_18_qatar_A350_A380.html|access-date=25 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622022241/http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/07_06_18_qatar_A350_A380.html|archive-date=22 June 2008}}</ref> and Korean Air.<ref name="Korean Air">{{cite web|title=Korean Air expands A380 aircraft order|publisher=Airbus|url=http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/08_02_19_a380_korean_air.html|access-date=25 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802172820/http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/08_02_19_a380_korean_air.html|archive-date=2 August 2008}}</ref>

Beginning in 2007, the A380 was considered as a potential replacement for the existing [[Boeing VC-25]] serving as [[Air Force One]] presidential transport,<ref>{{cite news |title= Airbus could build next Air Force One; 747 due to be replaced |first= Peter |last= Pae |work=The Seattle Times |date= 18 January 2009 |url= http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/boeingaerospace/2008641936_airforceone18.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/exclusive-us-considers-airbus-a380-as-air-force-one-and-potentially-a-c-5-replacement-218681/ |title= US considers Airbus A380 as Air Force One and potentially a C-5 replacement |work= Flight International |date= 17 October 2007}}</ref> but in January 2009 EADS declared that they were not going to bid for the contract, as assembling only three planes in the US would not make financial sense.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://flightglobal.com/articles/2009/01/28/321709/eads-waves-off-bid-for-air-force-one-replacement.html |title= EADS waves off bid for Air Force One replacement |date= 28 January 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090203072242/http://flightglobal.com/articles/2009/01/28/321709/eads-waves-off-bid-for-air-force-one-replacement.html |archive-date= 3 February 2009 |work= Flight International}}</ref>

On 13 May 2008, Airbus announced reduced deliveries for the years 2008 (12) and 2009 (21).<ref name="A380 production ramp-up">{{Cite news|title=A380 production ramp-up revisited|publisher=Airbus|date=13 May 2008|url=http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/08_05_13_A380_ramp_up_revisited.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517010428/http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/08_05_13_A380_ramp_up_revisited.html|archive-date=17 May 2008|access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> After further manufacturing setbacks, Airbus announced its plan to deliver 14 A380s in 2009, down from the previously revised target of 18.<ref name="new schedule 18">{{cite web|url=http://aviationweek.com/awin/airbus-expects-sharp-order-drop-2009|title=Airbus Expects Sharp Order Drop in 2009|work=Aviation Week & Space Technology|date=15 January 2009 |access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> A total of 10 A380s were delivered in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rothman|first=Andrea|url=http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/dec2009/gb20091230_002813.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416030634/http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/dec2009/gb20091230_002813.htm|archive-date=16 April 2011|title=Airbus Fell Short with 10 A380s in 2009|work=Business Week|date=30 December 2009|access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> In 2010, Airbus delivered 18 of the expected 20 A380s, due to Rolls-Royce engine availability problems.<ref name="Deliveries 2010">{{Cite news|last=Rothman|first=Andrea|title=Airbus Beats Boeing on 2010 Orders, Deliveries as Demand Recovery Kicks In|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date=17 January 2011|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-17/airbus-topped-boeing-on-orders-deliveries-last-year-as-demand-rebounded.html|access-date=30 December 2011}}</ref> Airbus planned to deliver "between 20 and 25" A380s in 2011 before ramping up to three a month in 2012.<ref name="Deliveries 2010"/> In fact, Airbus delivered 26 units, thus outdoing its predicted output for the first time. {{As of|2012|7}}, production was 3 aircraft per month. Among the production problems are challenging interiors, interiors being installed sequentially rather than concurrently as in smaller planes, and union/government objections to streamlining.<ref name=wsjDMcc/>