One of our friendly sources has supplied us with a complete list of frames currently in the build stages of production

Frames that have Completed Build Stages: (These will be the next frames to be Convoyed)
MSN031 - China Southern #1
MSN036 - China Southern #2
MSN039 - Korean Air #2
MSN054 - China Southern #3
MSN059 - Korean Air #3
MSN060 - Emirates #16
MSN067 - Air France #7

Frames Currently in Build Stages:
MSN063 - Qantas #11
MSN068 - Korean Air #4
MSN072 - Lufthansa #9
MSN074 - Qantas #12
MSN075 - Korean Air #5
MSN076 - Singapore Airlines #15
MSN077 - Emirates #17
MSN078 - Malaysia Airlines #1
MSN079 - Singapore Airlines #16
MSN080 - Emirates #18
MSN082 - Singapore Airlines #17

MSN035 will be delivered to Korean Air in Q3 2011.

Image Courtesy of zoecl

This is the first new A380 airline in 14 months, the last being Lufthansa back in February 2009. China Southern will take delivery of their first A380 in Q3 2011.

We all know that MSN042 (Emirates #13) is in Hamburg waiting for an outfitting spot, But it is only now that we get a picture of her flying.

Image Courtesy of David Barrie

Our spotters in France have caught up with Convoy #6/2010 and can reveal the the forward fuselage is MSN066 (Lufthansa #6).

Once again another Convoy is completed and still not MSN031 (China Southern) or MSN035 (Korean Air)

Image Courtesy of Aranes380

We can now confirm that the forward fuselage on Convoy #6/2010 will be either MSN066 (Lufthansa #6) or MSN031 (China Southern #1).

It is still unknown when the first A380 for Korean Air will be convoyed. At a guess I would say within two months, But time will tell.

Last week Section 19 of Korean Air’s fourth A380 (MSN068) was transferred from Toulouse to Hamburg for completion.

Image Courtesy of Yannick Delamarre

Convoy #4 also carried a Forward Fuselage and a Wing Pair for MSN064 (Air France #6).

This is a surprise to us as MSN066 (Lufthansa #6) and MSN031 (China Southern #1) were both scheduled to be convoyed ahead of MSN064.

In other A380 news, the roll out of MSN047 (Qantas #07), MSN048 (Lufthansa #4) and MSN052 (Air France #5) has been delayed into this week.

Several spotters have reported that MSN042 (Emirates #13) is on the flightline. We cannot confirm or deny this at this stage.

MSN043 (Air France #3) will begin cabin test flights in Hamburg this week. MSN043 is currently scheduled to be delivered later in the month.

MSN051 (Singapore Airlines #11) will also start cabin test flights soon. Test flights will probably start late this week or early next week.

Toulouse Production:
MSN002 (Private) – Currently in Refitting Hangar.
MSN042 (Emirates #13) – In Second Second Stage of Final Assembly and is Scheduled to Be Rolled Out in late March.
MSN047 (Qantas #7) – Engines Have Been Re Installed and Should Roll Out this week.
MSN048 (Lufthansa #4) – Completed and will be Rolled Out this week.
MSN050 (Qantas #8) – Being Stored in a Flightline Hangar until May.
MSN052 (Air France #5) – Completed and will be Rolled Out this week.
MSN055 (Qantas #9) – First Stage of Final Assembly. Parts of Final Assembly Will be done in a Flightline Hangar.
MSN056 (Emirates #14) – Second Stage of Final Assembly.
MSN057 (Emirates #15) – Waiting for slot in Second Stage of Final Assembly.
MSN058 (Singapore Airlines #12) – Waiting for Slot in First Stage of Final Assembly.
MSN061 (Lufthansa #5) – First Stage of Final Assembly.
MSN062 (Qantas #10) – First Stage of Final Assembly.
MSN065 (Singapore Airlines #13) – Body Join has Begun and is Scheduled to take 10 days.

Hamburg Production:
MSN009 (Emirates #9) – Delivery Scheduled for May.
MSN028 (Emirates #10) – Delivery Scheduled for June.
MSN030 (Emirates #11) – Delivery Scheduled for July.
MSN038 (Lufthansa #1) – Delivery Scheduled for 10th May.
MSN041 (Lufthansa #2) – Delivery Scheduled for June.
MSN043 (Air France #3) – Delivery Scheduled for April.
MSN044 (Lufthansa #3) – Delivery Scheduled for Q3 2010.
MSN046 (Emirates #12) – Delivery Scheduled for August.
MSN049 (AIr France #4) – Delivery Scheduled for Q3 2010,
MSN051 (Singapore Airlines #11) – Delivery Scheduled for Late March.

Convoy’s:
The next new frames to be Convoyed to Toulouse are scheduled to be.
MSN031 (China Southern #1)
MSN066 (Lufthansa #6)
MSN069 (Lufthansa #7)
MSN035 (Korean Air #1)

First Stage of Final Assembly = Installation of Electronic Components that Control the Aircraft and Installation of Fuel Tanks.

Second Stage of Final Assembly = Installation of Engines, Belly Fairing and all other Facilities in and outside the Aircraft.

Roll Out = Moved from the Final Assembly Line to the Flightline.

More action this month as the production line is speeding up to meet 2009 and 2010 deliveries. I’ve simplified ( improved ? ) the categories shown here.

Major movements were ;

MSN017-EK delivered
MSN027-QF and MSN29-QF flew to XFW
MSN041-LH and MSN051-SQ convoy to TLS

Current situation ( end March figures in brackets )

In service 14 ( 13 )

In production ;
At XFW for outfitting and painting 8 ( 7 )
At TLS for assembly/refit 13 ( 13 )
Parts building 14 ( 11 )

Not yet started / postponed 12 ( 17 )

Airbus ( test and demo ) 2 ( 2 )

Cancelled ( freighters ) 2 ( 2 )

MSN065-SQ has been reported as ‘Parts Building’ so totals have been updated to include all MSNs up to and including this one.

The 35 planes in production are for these customers ;

EK 10, SQ 7, QF 5, AF 5, LH 4, CZ 2, KE 1, VIP 1

The parts for the two CZ planes will probably be redeployed to another MSN.

Deliveries to come are showing as 14 ( total 15 ) in 2009 and 22 in 2010. These look realistic given the current situation.

Thanks to Geoff for the info.

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