Airbus job fears as planemaker cuts A380 production

Fears are growing that jobs could be axed at Airbus in Filton after the planemaker announced it is to cut production of the giant A380 super-jumbo.

The firm said requests from customers to defer or cancel existing orders and a lack of available finance for them to buy the double-decker jets meant it will make 14 A380 planes this year – instead of the 19 previously planned.

Last October, the original plan was to manufacture 21 A380s this year, which was reduced to 19 in November in the face of the credit crunch.

Following yesterday's announcement, Airbus now has orders for a total of 200 A380 planes – but needs to sell 420 of them to break even on the project..

Airbus and GKN in Filton, which have 6,500 staff between them, jointly design and partially build wings, landing gear and fuel systems for the A380, which can seat up to 800 people.

An Airbus spokesman at Filton confirmed that a review of staffing levels is being carried out at all of Airbus's manufacturing sites across Europe and a statement would be made in the coming months.

The spokesman added: "It is still too early to say what impact on production schedules this announcement will have. We are in the process of analysing the impact at all our centres and a statement will be made in due course."

In a statement, Airbus said: "Due to the economic and aviation crisis and following specific customer requests for deferrals, Airbus is adapting its A380 aircraft delivery schedule for 2009/2010.

"According to the new plan, Airbus now expects to deliver 14 double-decker aircraft in 2009 and more than 20 aircraft in 2010. Onward production rates and deliveries are dependent on airline demand and the availability of customer financing."