Airbus Calls on European Capitals for More Money
February 22, 2009
The 5 billion euros ($6.4 billion) in indirect aid Paris pledged the European plane maker's customers is "naturally not enough," Airbus Middle East President Habib Fekih told the Associated Press.
"We're expecting that some other governments will join the French government," he said, adding that the aerospace company was looking particularly for help through the financial crisis from Berlin and London. "Not maybe in the same amount."
As banks tighten their lending practices, Fekih said European governments should be interested in ensuring the companies that have ordered Airbus planes have access to the credit needed to pay for them.
At the end of January, the French government said it would provide 5 billion euros in credit to Airbus customers as part of a rescue package aimed at helping French companies dependent on export sales.
In 2008, Airbus delivered a record 483 planes, and a similar number is expected for 2009. The company has orders for more than 3,600 on its books.