Qantas Airlines become the third Airbus A380 Customer

Airbus CEO Tom Enders said that the European planemaker would be able to meet its target of delivering 12 A380 superjumbo jets this year. The Associated Press writes that in making the statement, Enders brushed "aside reports that manufacturing and engineering difficulties had again put the project behind schedule. The 525-seat, A-380 has been plagued by delays due to missteps, technical setbacks, communication failures and financial improprieties that have tarnished Airbus' image. The first in a series of costly delays was announced in June 2005."

Meanwhile, Australia's Qantas today became the third carrier to take delivery of an A380 jet. Singapore was the first, followed by Emirates. Reuters writes Qantas' first A380 "will enter service from Melbourne to Los Angeles on Oct. 20 and fly the Sydney-Los Angeles route on Oct. 24. It is configured for 450 passengers including 14 in first class and 72 in business shaped in futuristic silvery-backed pods." Alan Joyce, who will take over as Qantas' CEO in November, says: "We operate in some of the longest sectors in the world given our location and the A380 gives us the flexibility we need."