LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Virgin Atlantic on Thursday said it's agreed to push back deliveries of the troubled Airbus A380 superjumbo until 2013, a move it said would give Airbus the ability to focus on getting first versions of the planes to key customers. The privately held airline said by then, the A380 will have proved its "innovative design" over several years in customer service. Virgin had previously anticipating delivery of its first A380 in 2009.The deferral will allow Airbus to prioritize production and deliveries for launch customers such as Singapore Airlines, Virgin said, adding it's extended the leases of several Boeing aircraft to meet its fleet needs.
The plane, more than two years behind schedule, has already led to the departure of two Airbus chief executives as well as the resignation of EADS co-chief executive Noel Forgeard.
EADS shares had climbed 5% on Thursday, buoyed by orders for at least 150 planes from China as well as a separate order for 65 planes from a low-cost carrier in Ohio, Skybus Airlines.