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The Airbus A380 taxies past the control tower of Singapore's Changi International Airport shortly after its landing.

Airbus to Compensate for Delivery Delays

AP Photo/Wong Maye-E

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The double-decker Airbus A380 made its first landing in Asia on Friday, and Airbus officials said Asian airlines that have ordered the superjumbo will be compensated for delivery delays.

Seven airlines in the Asia-Pacific region have ordered a total of 49 A380s, accounting for 31 percent of 159 firm orders so far for the world's largest passenger aircraft - but deliveries have been pushed back six to eight months due to production delays.

The rollout of the plane is now on track, said Charles Champion, Airbus' head of the A380 program, and Airbus is "committed to deliver the first aircraft by the end of 2006" to Singapore Airlines, the first airline to operate the jet.

Singapore Airlines, which has ordered 10 of the jets, has complained about an eight-month delay in delivery to November 2006. Australian Qantas, which has ordered 12 planes, and Malaysia Airlines, which has ordered six planes, are also unhappy with the postponement.

Airbus will compensate airlines for the delays according to contract terms, officials said.

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