The world's airlines were forced to review growth plans on Wednesday after Airbus revealed more delays to its troubled A380 superjumbo.

Airbus on Tuesday delayed deliveries of the world's largest passenger jet by another year, leaving it two years behind schedule, because of wiring installation problems.

EADS predicted a profit shortfall of EUR2.8 billion euros (USD$3.55 billion) over four years on top of EUR2 billion (USD$2.54 billion) disclosed in June and announced a EUR2 billion annual cost-savings program, far above previous measures.

It also took provisions for penalties to airlines and acknowledged the risk of further charges for its new A350 aircraft, which needs to be redesigned to counter Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.

Debt rating agency Standard & Poor's said overnight it might cut its rating on EADS on the back of the profit warning and the delay, due mainly to problems installing wiring in the USD$300 million double-decker.

"As the delay will disrupt the expansion strategies of a number of major airlines, the group's competitive position on wide-body aircraft could be adversely affected," the agency said.

Australia's Qantas Airways said it would not receive its first A380 until August 2008, two years late. It expects to receive four of the planes by the end of that year and seven by mid-2009.

In the meantime it said it was reviewing its capacity needs.

"How are we going to mount the capacity in the short-term? What does it mean in the long-term? Where do we go from here? It's all part of the review," Qantas executive general manager John Borghetti said.

Qantas did not rule out canceling the A380 order.

"I'm not going to speculate on that. That's just between us and Airbus," Borghetti said.

JP Morgan analyst Matt Crowe said while Qantas might consider scrapping the superjumbo order, it was unlikely to do so.

"From what they said today, I think they're still committed to these planes. They're very desirable for Qantas's needs."

Qantas's Borghetti declined to comment on whether the airline would claim further damages from Airbus on top of the AUD$104 million (USD$77 million) it already expects to receive.

Qantas's comments echoed statements on Tuesday from Virgin Atlantic Airways and Dubai airline Emirates, the biggest buyer with an order for 43 superjumbos worth USD$13 billion at list prices.

Singapore Airlines confirmed it would receive compensation from Airbus for late delivery of its first A380 which is scheduled to make the inaugural flight.

The airline will now receive its first plane in October 2007 instead of December this year, which had already been pushed back six months from the originally proposed date.

"The delays are disappointing; all the more so because the flight test and certification program is proceeding well, and the delays are down to production issues," it said.

Singapore Air, the world's second largest airline by market value, has seen its promotional plans hit after securing the right to fly the A380's headline-grabbing first commercial flight and running a competition for passenger places, only to have to put off its plans for another year.

Airbus has sold 143 passenger versions of the plane to 14 airlines.