No crisis for 787 despite big Qantas cancellation

Boeing has suffered its largest Dreamliner cancellation so far after Qantas scrapped its firm order for 35 787-9s worth 6.62€ billion, taking the cumulative cancellation tally beyond 200.

However, with the move to terminate the Dreamliners on order for its mainline division being triggered by the Australian flag carrier's financial woes, the cancellation is not seen as having any major repercussions for the 787 programme.

Boeing secured the landmark 787 order from Qantas back in December 2005 with a deal for 65 aircraft for its mainline and Jetstar operations, when the Dreamliner saw off the rival Airbus A350 in an intense sales campaign. The Dreamliner was selected "as the cornerstone of Qantas's domestic and international fleet renewal programme".

At the time, Airbus was offering the old A330-dervived A350 and the loss of Qantas to the 787 likely helped spur Toulouse's decision to adopt the all-new XWB design.

Qantas grounds A380 after finding 36 cracks on wings

A Qantas Airways Airbus A380 has been grounded after 36 cracks were found on its wings on 5 February.

The aircraft, which bears the registration VH-OQF, had its airframe built in 2010 and has clocked 399 flight cycles totalling 2,454 flight hours, according to Flightglobal's ACAS database.

The aircraft was first grounded when Airbus requested a second phase of precautionary checks on its wings after it went through severe turbulence in January, said Qantas. Airbus made the request after reviewing data of the turbulent flight.