Bangkok Post : BOONSONG KOSITCHOTETHANA

After bypassing Thailand in past global tours, the Airbus A380 superjumbo will finally make its first showcase visit here early next week as the European planemaker tries to restore its image after announcing lengthy production delays. The visit, scheduled for Dec 5 to 7, comes as Thai Airways International dedhcides whether to cancel an order for six superjumbos worth $1.7 billion. Senior THAI executives said the decision needs to be made by February, or the national carrier's ability to expand capacity and add new routes would be jeopardised.

Shipment of the six double-decker, 555-seat jets has been delayed by up to 24 months beyond the already rescheduled November 2009 start for deliveries. Airbus hopes that showing off the superjumbo at Suvarnabhumi Airport will prompt government officials and industry executives to accept the delays.

As part of its image-boosting exercise in Thailand, France-based Airbus is due to address local media on Monday regarding the airplane and its commitment to deliver the gigantic jets to clients. Anthony Phillips, an Airbus spokesman, said the visit would follow the completion of a 150-hour technical route proving phase, which forms one of the final stages in the 2,500-hour certification programme (utilising five test aircraft) scheduled for completion next month.

Over the past two weeks, the A380 has travelled throughout the region, with stops in Singapore, Seoul, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and Sydney. ''Airbus considers it important to present the A380 to all of its major customers in the Asia-Pacific region before the end of the year,'' Mr Phillips said. Additionally, the recent opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport now means that it is technically feasible to accommodate airport compatibility tests, he added.

Five of the 120 aircraft parking bays at Suvarnabhumi can accommodate the Airbus A380, which can land or take off on runways that can take a Boeing 747. European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co (EADS), the parent of Airbus, said airlines haven't cancelled any more orders for the A380 superjumbo since FedEx Corp. scrapped a booking for 10 of the freighter version earlier this month.

Airbus has firm orders for 149 A380s after FedEx cancelled its order.

Singapore Airlines (SIA), the first carrier set to fly the A380, was originally supposed to receive its first superjumbo earlier this year but delays over problems with the cabin wiring have progressively pushed back the plane's arrival.

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