Malaysia Airlines said yesterday its order for six superjumbo A380s is still valid despite a report that said it could cancel the purchase as the jets no longer fit into its plans.

 

Malaysia Airline System Bhd said it was "still in discussions with Airbus on the various options available" on the delivery of the double-decker jet, which are running up to two years behind production schedule due to wiring problems.

 

The planes were initially scheduled to be delivered to MAS later this year. The Business Times newspaper said the jets may now only be delivered in 2009.

 

Citing unnamed sources, the paper said canceling the jets was one of its options on the table. "These planes are really expensive. So there is no point wasting taxpayers' money if it no longer fits into MAS's overall plans," the MAS source said, according to the paper.

 

(Shanghai Daily March 20, 2007)