Airbus delays delivery of some A380s

Impact on orders

Airbus' Chief Salesman John Leahy told The Associated Press Tuesday he doesn't expect today's delay to create additional order cancellations for the A380. Independent stock analyst C. Leonard Bauer isn't so sure.

"Trans-ocean carriers, like Japan's All Nippon Airways, will be patient because the A380 is an integral part of their long-route strategy and because long hauls comprise a high percentage of their routes," Bauer said. "But other airlines, such as [Middle East airline] Emirates may begin to grow impatient." Bauer added that he doesn't have a rating on nor own shares of Boeing or Airbus.

Further, the A380 is critical to Airbus' business model because the company does not have a formidable contender in the next-generation, point-to-point market, Bauer said. Airbus's point-to-point aircraft, the currently under design A350, will compete with Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, also currently under design, but the Dreamliner will secure the majority of new orders in the category, in Bauer's interpretation.

"If the A380 doesn't achieve its sales goals, Airbus will trail Boeing in the two major, next-generation commercial airliner categories, trans-ocean and point-to-point, which is not a prescription for success," Bauer said. "For Airbus to grow at a good rate the A380 must succeed in grabbing market share from the 747."