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MELBOURNE, Oct 4: The world's airlines were forced to review growth plans on Wednesday after Airbus parent EADS again pushed back first delivery of its troubled A380 superjumbo.

Franco-German-led company EADS delayed first delivery of the world's largest jetliner by another year on Tuesday, and said its launch customer, Singapore Airlines, would receive its first plane in October 2007, 10 months overdue.

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

''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 debt rating agency said.

Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd. 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 told Reuters.

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

Singapore Airlines said it was awaiting further news on the delay to the 19 Airbus 380 planes it ordered but said it would receive six new planes from Airbus's U.S. rival, Boeing Co., soon.

Qantas did not rule out cancelling the A380 order.

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

The Airbus troubles sent shares in Boeing up 2.3 percent to $81.78.

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

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 shares rose as much as 2.3 percent to a seven-month high of A$4.05 as oil prices fell. The stock last traded up 0.8 percent at A$3.99, in a wider market down 0.2 percent.

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

Singapore Airlines, the world's number-two in terms of market value after U.S.-based Southwest Airlines, has not said how much it has sought in damages.

Airbus said that ''four or five'' of its contracts with airlines were heading for a loss.

Qantas said it was satisfied that the delay was due to production problems and not technical problems with the A380.

Last December Qantas chose Boeing to supply up to 115 Boeing 787 aircraft for its fleet renewal, worth up to A$20 billion.

Singapore Airlines ordered 20 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners worth $4.52 billion at list prices in June and said it would take rights for another 20 planes.

REUTERS