Airbus insists it will begin building the A350 XWB at the end of this year and that the next-generation airliner will be ready to go into service in the second half of 2013 - as planned.
Parent company EADS has confirmed the timetable although it admits the “programme remains challenging”. EADS chief Louis Gallois said: “While advancing with the A350 XWB through achieving several critical milestones, this decisive programme continues to require our closest attention.”
The A350 family – the European planemaker’s answer to American rival Boeing’s Dreamliner – will carry between 250 to 400-plus passengers.
Airbus employs 4,500 people at its Filton factory which is responsible for the design and engineering of Airbus wings, fuel systems and landing gear integration.
The planemaker’s earnings from its commercial operation increased to €125m (£110m) over the first three months, as revenues rose 12% to €6.7bn (£5.8bn).
The planemaker delivered 119 commercial aircraft against 122 in the previous first quarter when it turned in earnings of just €6 million.
It says a year-on-year improvement in revenues was partly reduced by higher research and development expenses, particularly on the A350.
Airbus secured orders for 69 aircraft in the first quarter including 10 A380s, while it gained extensive commitments to its new A320neo family.
Meanwhile EADS is expecting a “significant improvement” in its group earnings during 2012 as a result of higher volume, better pricing and an improvement of its double-deck A380 airliner performance.
