THE parent company of planemaker Airbus has admitted that the cost of repairs to some if its A380 superjumbos and pushed down third-quarter profits.
EADS said net profit for July to September was down 1% to s247m, down from s249m in the same period last year.
The company, which operates a giant wing-making plant in Deeside employing 6,000 people, said it had spent s160m of an expected s208m total on the A380 repairs, which involve small fractures found near rivets on some planes at the spot where wings metal covers, or skins, are joined with the wing ribs.
Sales rose 15% in the quarter to s9.8bn and the company says it is on track to exceed its target of 10% sales growth for the full year.
Airbus also said that TransAsia Airways of Taiwan has placed an order for another six A321neo aircraft.
The new aircraft will be part of the airlines fleet expansion and will allow it to develop new routes to regional destinations.
EADS chief executive, Tom Enders, said: Our performance over the first nine months shows double-digit revenue growth.
However, we will not run out of operational challenges anytime soon, especially at Eurocopter and Airbus.
And for the rest of the year, well put strong emphasis on cash generation. Aircraft deliveries are key.
