Airbus has expressed concern over its A400M military airlifter deal, the A380 schedule and generally shrinking demand from airlines in 2010, despite robust production and orders for 2009.
Both the A380 superjumbo jetliner and the A400M are running behind schedule and over budget.
The company said that keeping production in line with weakened demand would be a challenge this year, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Airbus CEO Tom Enders was quoted by WSJ as saying that A400M liabilities would eventually jeopardise the whole of the company.
The firm wants government customers to share some of the development costs and an agreement is to be reached by the end of January 2010.
EADS CEO Louis Gallois said that it would be a disaster for Europe if they don’t succeed in the negotiations.
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By GlobalDataAirbus has delivered 498 aircraft in 2009 in its commercial planes category, its highest output to date and a 3% rise from 2008.
Airbus CEO Tom Enders said the A380 will remain a financial liability for Airbus for some years to come.
The aircraft manufacturer has juggled about 600 slots in its production schedule over the past 18 months to hold output steady by delaying some deliveries while accelerating others.
Airbus COO John Leahy said that the company could keep deliveries flat this year as its airplane pricing was holding up better than expected.
