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| Airbus 'must spread any cutbacks' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Jacques Chirac have agreed to spread the pain of job cuts and restructuring at Airbus. | |
| Mr Chirac said there should be an "equitable distribution" of the measures needed to reorganise Airbus. | |
| He noted that any job losses or site closures had to entail compensation. | |
| The competitiveness of the company would be the most important factor in future planning, Chancellor Merkel said at a joint news conference. | |
| AIRBUS EUROPEAN PLANTS Toulouse: 11,500 staffSaint Nazaire: 2,300Nantes: 2,000Meaulte: 1,200Hamburg: 10,000Bremen: 3,100Nordenham: 2,100Stade: 1,500Buxtehude: 350Laupheim: 1,100Getafe: 2,000Cadiz: 500Madrid: 500Filton: 6,500Broughton: 5,000 | |
| The German and French leaders spoke after a joint meeting with the management of the embattled planemaker near Berlin. | |
| UK jobs | |
| Thousands of jobs across Europe are at stake as Airbus restructures its operations in the wake of delays in its key A380 superjumbo programme. | Thousands of jobs across Europe are at stake as Airbus restructures its operations in the wake of delays in its key A380 superjumbo programme. |
| Two UK plants, employing 11,500 people, are regarded as vulnerable to any consolidation of Airbus. | Two UK plants, employing 11,500 people, are regarded as vulnerable to any consolidation of Airbus. |
| The UK sites, dedicated to aircraft wing design and manufacture, are at Filton, Bristol and Broughton, North Wales. | The UK sites, dedicated to aircraft wing design and manufacture, are at Filton, Bristol and Broughton, North Wales. |
| EADS has said its board would make a decision on the restructuring by the end of this month. | EADS has said its board would make a decision on the restructuring by the end of this month. |
| Reports have suggested that Airbus could cut up to 12,000 jobs from its 57,000-strong workforce. | Reports have suggested that Airbus could cut up to 12,000 jobs from its 57,000-strong workforce. |
| Lobbying | Lobbying |
| The meeting of the leaders is taking place in Germany, with each government keen to minimise the losses in their nation. | The meeting of the leaders is taking place in Germany, with each government keen to minimise the losses in their nation. |
| One idea under discussion is a plan to give Germany a greater share of work on the next model A320 jet in return for reducing its demands for work on the upcoming A350 plane. | One idea under discussion is a plan to give Germany a greater share of work on the next model A320 jet in return for reducing its demands for work on the upcoming A350 plane. |
| Germany had expressed concern that its 21,000 Airbus workers would be worst hit. | Germany had expressed concern that its 21,000 Airbus workers would be worst hit. |
| Airbus had been due to announce a major overhaul of the business on Tuesday, but this was postponed amid disagreement between its various European owners. | Airbus had been due to announce a major overhaul of the business on Tuesday, but this was postponed amid disagreement between its various European owners. |
| France, Germany, the UK and Spain, all home to Airbus factories, have been unable to agree on future contracts. | France, Germany, the UK and Spain, all home to Airbus factories, have been unable to agree on future contracts. |
| Government ministers and union officials from all four countries have been lobbying Airbus bosses in recent days, fearing that plants in their countries will bear the brunt of the cuts. | Government ministers and union officials from all four countries have been lobbying Airbus bosses in recent days, fearing that plants in their countries will bear the brunt of the cuts. |
| Costly delays to the A380 superjumbo have hit the company's finances. | Costly delays to the A380 superjumbo have hit the company's finances. |
| Parent firm EADS says Airbus needs to reduce its costs by 5bn euros (£3.4bn) by 2010 to boost productivity and make up for the losses from the delays to the flagship project. | Parent firm EADS says Airbus needs to reduce its costs by 5bn euros (£3.4bn) by 2010 to boost productivity and make up for the losses from the delays to the flagship project. |
| Further savings after 2010 - in the region of 2bn euros a year - are also likely. | Further savings after 2010 - in the region of 2bn euros a year - are also likely. |
| Airbus' main factory is in Toulouse, where the firm is based. | Airbus' main factory is in Toulouse, where the firm is based. |
| Among its German plants, the company employs more than 10,000 staff in Hamburg, where final assembly of three models takes place. | Among its German plants, the company employs more than 10,000 staff in Hamburg, where final assembly of three models takes place. |