Airbus will produce six A380s and eight A400Ms per year from 2020, affecting up to 3,700 jobs across France, Germany, Spain and the UK. The company says its focus is on redeployment.

In a statement, the company said it is “now entering into a formal social process with staff representatives at European and national levels to analyse potential implications for the company’s workforce and to start joint mitigation effort.”

The company said it is “committed to managing any implications for its workforce in a responsible manner” and is confident it will be able to propose opportunities to most of the affected employees through programmes which are ramping up.

Airbus claims that at the baseline of six deliveries per year, it can pursue further sales campaigns which may lead to higher production levels.

The A380 production line risked closing in January 2018, before Emirates confirmed an order for 20 aircraft with the option of a further 16, in a $16 billion deal.

A400M

Airbus will produce 15 A400M military aircraft in 2018 and 11 in 2019, then eight from the following year. It said in the statement: “This adjustment is based on discussions with the A400M Launch Customer Nations. Airbus pursues export opportunities beyond this level.”

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