A wave of bad news has sent shares in Airbus (fr:AIR) spiralling 10 per cent. The world’s second-largest planemaker said earnings before interest, tax and one-off items would be flat in 2016, undermining hopes that recently upgraded models would begin boosting growth.
The group, which previously announced plans to cut A330 production to nine aircraft a month, reported that it would cut production again to an unspecified level following slow progress in finding buyers. Moreover, Airbus warned that it could axe its superjumbo A380 range if additional orders aren't booked for delivery after 2017.
This news came just hours after first customer Qatar Airways postponed an order at the last minute for Airbus’s new wide-body A350 jet. The Gulf airline, which has developed a reputation for demanding discounts, confirmed that it was delaying the handover indefinitely, without specifying a reason.
