An A380 operated by China Southern. [CFP]

The European Air Safety Agency ordered a global inspection on a fleet of 67 A380 in operation for possible safety problems on their wings.

The move is a quick response from the European airline regulator and global carriers of the superjumbo jet after 36 cracks were discovered on an A380 operated by Qantas Airway on Wednesday.

Similar cracks were also found on an A380 of Qantas Airway last month. The chief publicity officer of Airbus China, Tao Wenge, said the parts that carry the cracks are not crucial structural parts, so they won't affect the plane's safe operation.

The global safety check is under way and repair work is expected to be completed within one week, he said.

China Southern is the only Chinese air company that employs the A380. Tao said the accumulated flight cycles that China Southern's two A380 has flied are still far from 1,300 fly cycles at which the EASA would require an inspection, so there is no need to conduct a check on the aircrafts.

The incident is the latest in a series of troubles facing Airbus. The European aircraft maker's recent financial and safety issues followed the Qantas's A380 engine explosion caused by an oil leak in 2010.

Analysts said the most important thing that aircraft giant has to do now is to restore the confidence of its clients as the company faces increasing competition from its biggest rival Boeing.

China's business press carried the story above on Friday.

Contact the writer of this story at: hes@china.org.cn.

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