Airbus replaces head of A380 program

Move is CEO Christian Streiff's first major appointment since he joined the troubled plane maker in July.
PARIS -- Plane maker Airbus replaced the head of its A380 superjumbo program Monday, two months after a crisis over production delays led to the resignation of the company's chief executive and the co-head of parent EADS.
Airbus said Frenchman Charles Champion had been replaced by Mario Heinen, 50, who until now has been in charge of the plane maker's chief cash engine, its single-aisle range.
The move is CEO Christian Streiff's first major appointment since he was drafted in from outside the aviation industry to replace Gustav Humbert as the head of Airbus in July.
Airbus announced the move on the day of its first long-distance A380 test flight with hundreds of passengers on board, drawn from Airbus staff and cabin design specialists.
The A380, the world's largest airliner, is due to be delivered to its first customer Singapore Airlines by the end of the year after two sets of delays totaling a year.