Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has had the delivery of its first Airbus A380 aircraft delayed a third time by the airframer.
The first aircraft will now arrive in the first half of 2012 instead of August 2011, says a MAS spokeswoman. MAS has six A380s on order.
An Airbus spokesman declines to comment on the reasons behind the delay, and adds that the airframer is still finalising the delivery schedule for the six aircraft with MAS.
MAS' A380s were initially due to start arriving in January 2007, but the first delivery was postponed to January 2011 after delays in the Airbus programme, and then again to August 2011.
The carrier is acquiring the six A380s from its major shareholder Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad (PMB), as it seeks to own aircraft instead of leasing them.
MAS said in December 2009 that is expects to receive delay compensation payments of "in excess" of RM330 million ($103.3 million) for the first two delays.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
