EADS chief says Airbus may cut output again in late 2010

European aircraft maker Airbus may cut production further in the second half of next year, Louis Gallois, chief executive of parent company EADS, said in Dubai today.

"We may have to adjust output. We cannot rule it out. For the moment, we do not have the information on which to base such a decision," he told reporters at the Dubai Airshow.

Gallois also said he hopes talks with European partner countries on the delayed A400M military transport plan will be completed by the end of the year.

EADS (the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company) might consider acquisitions in the United States, though they would only be of modest scale, he said.

Visibility is good on aircraft deliveries scheduled for the first half of next year but it is weaker for the second half, the chief executive said.

If the aircraft maker wants to adjust production it has to make a decision four months ahead for the A320 family of short-haul planes and six months ahead for the A330 and A340 long-haul models.

"But we try to make it as quickly as possible (to help) our suppliers," Gallois said.

In October, Airbus cut the production schedule of A320s to 34 from 36 a month and froze output of A330 and A340 jets at 8.5 a month. Initially, it had planned to step up production of the long-haul planes to 10 a month by the start of 2010.