EADS profit plunges over costly Airbus
EUROPE’S largest Aerospace group EADS’s first-quarter profit plunged by almost two-thirds after persistent cost worries over its A380 superjumbo, it said.
The parent company of Airbus posted a 64 per cent drop in operating profit to €83m (£71.3m), missing average market expectations.
The figures included a slim profit of €7m profit for the Airbus commercial planemaking unit, down from €89m a year earlier.
It took a €400m knock from deteriorating currency rates.
“In addition, the A380 continues to weigh significantly on underlying performance,” EADS said in a statement.
Airbus has said it is struggling to contain costs on the world’s largest airliner.
EADS net profit fell 39 per cent to €103m. Sales rose six per cent to €8.95bn in line with expectations.
Chief Executive Louis Gallois said recent financial market turbulence signalled “the crisis is not fully behind us.”