Plans to move Airbus operations out of Germany as part of a cost-cutting plan have angered politicians and officials who are calling on the German government to intervene in a bid to retain investment in the firm.News that Airbus is facing an uncertain future due to the delayed roll-out of the A380 super jumbo jet by at least a year, and the proposed shifting of operations from Hamburg to cheaper sites in Russia, India and China, has angered politicians and industry officials in Germany. Politicians in Hamburg, home of the Airbus plant charged with building the super jumbo's cabins, are reportedly enraged at prospects of layoffs after the German state spent 750 million euros ($955 million) to keep the plant running.
Airbus is responsible for some 40,000 jobs in Germany. Berlin daily Berliner Zeitung said the German government was particularly concerned about the future of Airbus' factory in Hamburg -- which employs some 12,000 people amid rumors that all production activities connected with A380 superjumbo could be transferred to Airbus' parent company EADS (European Aeronautic Space and Defence Company) Toulouse in France.
Germany is present in EADS via German-US auto giant DaimlerChrysler, but the group has recently reduced its shareholding in the aerospace group from 30 percent to 22.3 percent.
Airbus boss Christian Streif has called for crisis talks with Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Michael Glos and will meet the minister on Thursday to discuss emergency measures to prevent Germany losing influence in Airbus. A spokesman for Glos confirmed on Wednesday that the minister would meet with the Airbus chief this week.