ILFC is "holding firm" on its A380 commitment for 10 aircraft "for the moment" and is "looking at compensation [from Airbus]," Chairman and CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy told media here yesterday, backing away from earlier statements that the lessor might cancel its orders over delays to the program.

Separately, ILFC ordered six additional A320 family aircraft, taking its orders for the narrowbody family to more than 430 and its total orders for all Airbus types to more than 600.

Udvar-Hazy called on Airbus to become "more European" to fast-track the correction of its problems. "When things are going right they are European but when they are going wrong they are French, German or British. They need to become more European," he said.

Commenting on the redesigned A350, he said Airbus has "pretty much done what we had asked but we haven't seen guarantees or pricing." He said some potential A350 customers are moving to 787s because their needs are more time-sensitive. He also questioned whether Airbus will succeed in taking on two Boeing models, the 787 and 777, with a single platform: "There are challenges for [just] one engine and one wing and there are still [engine] issues for the A350-1000 as airlines want two engine choices."