Airbus cuts superjumbo delivery target

European planemaker Airbus has cut its 2009 delivery target for A380 superjumbos, the latest in a series of cutbacks, this time blaming the economic crisis and deferral requests from airline customers. Undoubtedly China Southern, is one of those postponing delivery of the aircraft.

Airbus now expects to deliver 14 of the double-decker planes, the world’s largest airliners, down from its latest goal of 18.

The move marks the first time Airbus has cut wide-body production during the current downturn as airlines reduce capacity to weather the worst industry crisis in decades.

Rival Boeing announced wide-body plane production cuts last month.

Emirates, the biggest A380 customer with 58 on order, told Reuters in an interview that it was sticking to its $55 billion order book. However, it said in March that it would stop flying the plane on its New York route.