Air France to defer 1-2 A380's ?

What is a Mini Jumbo???

Air France-KLM is considering delaying deliveries of some of the dozen A380 jetliners it ordered from Airbus, on top of recent deferrals of Boeing planes, but so far is not planning to cancel any of its recent plane purchases, according to its chief executive.
Europe’s largest airline, along with its rivals, is looking to cut back on capital spending and preserve cash, as the global economic downturn crushes demand for flights and access to financing evaporates.

“We moved 777 cargo and we moved 777 passenger,” said Pierre-Henri Gourgeon at the Reuters Travel and Leisure Summit in New York, referring to Boeing orders. “We (may) move also late A380s, after the first six… that has an effect on down payment.”

France’s flag carrier has 12 of EADS’ unit Airbus’s massive A380 jets on order. It is planning on taking deliveries as scheduled over the next two years, including two scheduled for this year, but may shift plans for later deliveries.

“It’s mainly from the six or seventh aircraft that we may move or adjust our schedule, which will create some saving on the down payment this year and the year after,” said Gourgeon, who took over as CEO in January.
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Air France has already deferred about half of the 20 or so Boeing 777 minijumbos it has on order.“What we have done is move something like 10 (Boeing) aircraft by one or two years, such that we really decrease our fleet investment to what is needed or what we cannot avoid,” said Gourgeon. “In Air France and KLM, we move orders so that we clean the path in investment and in cash-out for the next two years. It’s more moving orders than canceling anything.”

For the period up to March 2011, the airline has “significantly reduced” its planned capital expenditures, said Gourgeon.

Source: The New York Times

Qantas is doing the same thing with it’s A380 orders and also the new QF CEO Allan Joyce is talking about cancelling some of the 100 plus order for the 787…sign of the times i’m afraid!!!