MORE details are emerging about further, unexpected hold-ups to Airbus's A380 flagship passenger aircraft - the wings for which are made in Flintshire.

The plane maker has warned Dubai's Emirates airline - the biggest customer for the A380 superjumbo, with 58 on order - that there may be further delays next year to deliveries of the pounds 165m jet.

The new hiccup in delivery schedules will be a major embarrassment for Airbus which after previous delays to the superjumbo project had been hoping that production of the planes would now run smoothly.

State-owned Emirates confirmed yesterday that Airbus had sent a letter informing it of possible delays in its "wave 2" deliveries.

Airline president Tim Clark said the delay would apply to A380s being delivered to the carrier from April next year. Its first delivery due this year is already almost two years behind schedule.

"It's very serious. This will do us serious damage", said Mr Clark. He added that the airline's profit growth would be hurt.