Airbus chief hasn’t ruled out job cuts as company looks set to launch restructuring program

Tom Enders Airbus chief executive has said he will not rule out job cuts at the company after various media reports suggest the group was considering ‘slashing costs’

“You never exclude anything when you’re talking about efficiency and synergy but we’re in the process of thinking it all through, how we can make our corporate structures leaner and more efficient,” Enders told AFP, when asked if cost-cutting could hit staff.

The Financial Times reported Monday that Airbus was eyeing savings that could include job cuts as the company tries to deal with slow sales for the A380 super jumbo and manufacturing problems with the A400M military transport plane.

It said the company was seeking to reduce duplication between its aircraft division, which accounts for just over two-thirds of revenues, and the parent company and other divisions.

Enders would not be drawn on any restructuring plan however, he said;

“Cost is always an element in any normal company, competition is relentless, competition is always increasing.

“All we’re doing is thinking of how we can make this company faster, more efficient, more successful, in tomorrow’s business world.”

Airbus has said it is to slash planned production of the flagship A380 superjumbo to 12 from 2018, down from 27 aircraft in 2015.

Officials announced at the Farnborough Airshow in July production will be reduced in 2017 to 20 aircraft, additional cost reduction initiatives will be implemented to achieve breakeven point however, with a target of just 12 in 2018 there is a risk the A380 program will return to red.

The company is meanwhile trying to boost production of its most popular aircraft, the A320, which had been hit by delays in the supply chain.