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| Qantas ups A380 superjumbo order | Qantas ups A380 superjumbo order |
| (4 days later) | |
| Australian airline Qantas has upped its order for the new Airbus superjumbo, despite it being dogged by delays. | Australian airline Qantas has upped its order for the new Airbus superjumbo, despite it being dogged by delays. |
| Qantas is now expecting delivery of 20 A380s between 2008 and 2015 after ordering a further eight of the planes. | Qantas is now expecting delivery of 20 A380s between 2008 and 2015 after ordering a further eight of the planes. |
| Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said the decision to raise the order had been made after an "extensive review" of recent problems at Airbus. | Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said the decision to raise the order had been made after an "extensive review" of recent problems at Airbus. |
| Earlier this month, Airbus warned problems would delay A380 deliveries by almost two years. | Earlier this month, Airbus warned problems would delay A380 deliveries by almost two years. |
| The plane-maker now expects to deliver the first aircraft to Singapore Airlines in October 2007. | The plane-maker now expects to deliver the first aircraft to Singapore Airlines in October 2007. |
| Costly delays | Costly delays |
| Wiring problems with the A380 have forced Airbus - owned by European group EADS - to issue three warnings of delays in the past two years. | Wiring problems with the A380 have forced Airbus - owned by European group EADS - to issue three warnings of delays in the past two years. |
| The delays are expected to cost the company 4.8bn euros ($6.1bn; £3.2bn) over the next four years. | The delays are expected to cost the company 4.8bn euros ($6.1bn; £3.2bn) over the next four years. |
| Mr Dixon said that following a review, Qantas had decided that the planes were best suited to its long-haul flights from Australia to the UK, US and Europe. | Mr Dixon said that following a review, Qantas had decided that the planes were best suited to its long-haul flights from Australia to the UK, US and Europe. |
| He added: "We are convinced that these problems relate to industrialisation issues at Airbus and will be remedied, and in no way relate to the technical capacity of the A380." | He added: "We are convinced that these problems relate to industrialisation issues at Airbus and will be remedied, and in no way relate to the technical capacity of the A380." |
| Mr Dixon also announced that it had agreed a new contract for the A380s, which included any further delays in the plane's delivery schedule. | Mr Dixon also announced that it had agreed a new contract for the A380s, which included any further delays in the plane's delivery schedule. |
| As well as ordering more superjumbos, the airline also announced it had decided to buy five more Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with deliveries set to begin in 2008. | As well as ordering more superjumbos, the airline also announced it had decided to buy five more Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with deliveries set to begin in 2008. |