Aircraft
Airbus Pleads for Relief as A400M Losses Mount
Company wants the European launch nations to reduce the penalties they are extracting for late deliveries and performance shortfalls.
The dust has not yet settled on the A400M’s problems. (Photo: Airbus Defence and Space)
The dust has not yet settled on the A400M’s problems. (Photo: Airbus Defence and Space)

Airbus has made a plea to the six European nations that launched the A400M program for relief from the penalties they are enforcing for late deliveries of the airlifter and shortfalls of its promised performance. The company has taken another €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) financial charge on the program, making a total of €2.2 billion ($2.3 billion) for 2016. “We must stop the bleeding and de-risk the program,” said chief executive officer Tom Enders during the company’s annual results media briefing today.