Airbus to handle some A380 repairs after wing-spar cracking

Two years after the world's largest jetliner rolled out of its Toulouse factory for the last time, Airbus is preparing to bring some A380 superjumbos back to their birthplace for wing inspections even as it re-dedicates the plant to smaller jets. A380 production stopped in 2021 and part of the giant Jean-Luc Lagardere assembly hall has been redeployed as an assembly line for the single-aisle A321neo, to be inaugurated on Monday. But elsewhere in the colossal plant, Airbus is preparing to welcome back some A380s from the largest customer, Emirates, for inspection and possible repairs after accelerated cracking was detected in some wing spars of jets stored during the pandemic. Work on a dedicated "A380 Emirates" inspection facility in the building began in December and the project is due to run until third quarter 2024, according to Force Ouvriere union. Airbus has agreed to pay special bonuses to workers on the project starting in September, backdated to the end of last year, it said in a notice giving the first detailed indication of the duration of the repair project. "We are supporting inspections on some aircraft in Toulouse," an Airbus spokesperson said. Emirates, which has said the problem does not represent an immediate safety issue, said there would be minimal impact to its operations from the inspection and repair programme which is based on specified time limits since each wing was installed.<br/>