Etihad cancels second batch of Airbus orders

Airbus SAS lost a second batch of orders for its A350-1000 from Etihad after the Abu Dhabi state- owned airline canceled seven more planes, dealing a blow to a jet that Airbus has positioned against Boeing Co’s 777. Etihad cut its order tally for the 350-seat A350-1000 wide- body in April, according to figures released today by Airbus. The reduction follows canceled orders for six A350-1000s in December. The carrier still has on order 12 A350s, all for the largest variant set for delivery in 2017. Airbus had originally promised the plane for 2014 before delaying the aircraft last year, saying it needed time to improve range and performance. Qatar Airways, the first and largest A350 customer, has said it’s still not content with the design of the aircraft, a criticism shared by Emirates, the second-largest customer. Etihad didn’t immediately provide an explanation for the cancellation. The Airbus A350 will be available in three sizes, as Airbus seeks to market the aircraft both against the popular Boeing 777 and the smaller 787 Dreamliner that recently entered service after more than three years of delays.