News of the cuts came amid reports one of the first customers for the double-decker A380 had raised a number of concerns over problems with the new airliner after putting it into service.

As reported by the Bristol Post on Monday the firm is making around 250 contract workers at its Broughton site in North Wales redundant.

But Airbus spokesman Maarten Abele told the Post the cuts were unrelated to Filton, where Airbus has 5,000 employees.

Unite's national officer Bernie Hamilton said: "This is the latest indication of how the global downturn is affecting the world economy. Unite is demanding that Airbus does everything possible to avoid compulsory cuts for the permanent and agency staff.

"Airbus must keep to its commitments which mean that, before the company considers compulsory redundancies, it must first bring outsourced work in-house, reduce overtime to a minimum and seek volunteers from the entire workforce."

Mr Abele said: "As part of a review of its business and manpower requirements, Airbus in the UK has asked Blue Arrow Managed Services to look at reducing the size of its complementary labour force at Airbus' Broughton facility, by approximately 250.

"Representatives from Airbus in the UK, Blue Arrow Managed Services and Unite have been – and will continue to be – working closely together in the coming months, to manage this situation effectively and responsibly, with the shared objective of avoiding compulsory redundancies of Blue Arrow employees wherever possible.

"Ongoing discussions on flexibility measures, which began in February, will continue."

Airbus employs 6,000 staff in Broughton, including 1,400 contract staff.

The news came as German media reported Gulf-based airline Emirates had sent a 48-page complaints list about the A380 superjumbo.

Emirates has 58 of the huge jets on order but has experienced technical and reliability issues on the four aircraft already in its fleet, it was reported.

The plane's wings and landing gear are designed and part-built by Airbus at Filton.

German magazine Der Spiegel said the two companies held a "crisis meeting" to discuss Emirates' concerns, although the airline says it has a "good relationship" with Airbus and the meeting was "routine".