Emirates Airline has given Airbus a list of concerns over its A380 super-jumbo jets after a series of problems that have forced the Dubai-based carrier to delay and cancel flights.
Singapore Airlines and the Australian carrier Qantas have also had problems with the A380, which began commercial service in Oct 2007. The problems have involved operational reliability, rather than in-flight safety.
Emirates' problems with the double-decker aircraft were raised in a 46-page presentation in a meeting at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, last month.
Breakdowns have grounded the four A380 aircraft in Emirates' fleet for 500 hours. Reports of the carrier's A380 problems were first reported in the German newspaper Der Spiegel.
"Technical issues are expected with new aircraft, particularly one that uses many new technologies," an Emirates spokeswoman said yesterday. "Naturally, as the airline operator, we want these to be resolved as soon as possible."
She added that the airline's confidence in the A380 "remains unchanged - it is an excellent aircraft. Feedback from our customers thus far has been very positive".
Airbus said it was taking steps to eliminate problems as quickly as possible. The company will increase its stock of A380 spares at its parts centres, including one at Dubai Airport Free Zone, and make available response teams for technical support.
"Airbus takes customers' comments very seriously," it said in a statement yesterday.
Emirates began flying the aircraft in August last year and a month later grounded an aeroplane due to an electrical problem.
On Dec 4, an electrical fault forced an Emirates A380 flight to New York to turn back, after passengers had already waited 14 hours while Emirates fixed a fuel-pump leak.
The electrical fault caused interior lighting and the digital entertainment system to malfunction.
Singapore Airlines twice grounded an A380 due to a fuel-pump problem, while Qantas identified problems with fuel pumps on two of its A380s this month.
Emirates is the largest customer of the A380 aircraft from Airbus with 58 on order, worth more than US$17 billion (Dh62.44bn) at list prices. The spokeswoman said it was not considering changing its orders. "We have no plans to cancel any," she said.
But the airline was in talks that could involve delaying deliveries, as airlines worldwide battle a decline in demand.
Emirates operates A380 aircraft on its New York and London routes, and plans to begin operating the super-jumbo to Incheon International Airport in Seoul, South Korea, from November.
Robert Ziegler, an analyst with AT Kearney in Dubai, said the public airing of the A380's shortcomings could pose a serious issue for Airbus.
"This doesn't reflect very well on Airbus," Mr Ziegler said. "That's whose image is impacted."
With airlines suffering from the economic downturn, delaying the schedule of future deliveries "would not be such a bad thing right now", he said.
The A380 joins a long list of aircraft that suffered initial problems. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is now nearly two years behind scheduled release due to production problems.
The Boeing 777, the most popular long-range aircraft to date, had gearbox-bearing wear issues that reportedly caused British Airways in 1997 to temporarily withdraw it from transatlantic services.
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
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Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.