Airbus (EAD.PA) has decided to drop Lithium-Ion batteries and will switch to traditional nickel-cadmium batteries for its new A350 passenger jet in the wake of battery problems on Boeing’s (BA.N) 787 Dreamliner, the European planemaker said on Friday.
Airbus said it had taken the decision to prevent further delays in initial deliveries of the A350 amid uncertainty over whether investigations into Boeing’s battery incidents would lead to changes in regulations.
Reuters had reported that Airbus was considering such a move to limit development risks on its $15 billion airliner.
“We want to mature the Lithium-Ion technology but we are making this decision today to protect the A350’s entry into service schedule,” a spokeswoman said.
The A350 is due to enter service in the second half of 2014 compared with an initial target of 2012 when it was launched as Europe’s answer to the light-weight 787 Dreamliner.
