Air France says to delay two A380 plane deliveries

PARIS, March 3 (Reuters) - Air France KLM (AIRF.PA) said on Tuesday it would defer taking delivery of its sixth and seventh Airbus (EAD.PA) A380 planes, out of its order for 12 of the giant aircraft.

Chief executive Pierre-Henri Gourgeon had told the Reuters Travel and Lesure summit on Monday the group could defer some A380s after the first six, to save cash on downpayments.

"It's mainly from the six or seventh aircraft that we may move or adjust our schedule, which will create some saving on the down payment this year and the year after," said Gourgeon, who took over as CEO in January. [ID:nN02425406]

In an statement on Tuesday, Air France specified that only the sixth and seventh deliveries of the dozen A380s on order would be postponed. (Reporting by Marcel Michelson; Editing by Dan Lalor)