EADS calms fears on A400M commitment

EADS has reiterated its commitment to the troubled A400M tactical transport aircraft programme while making it clear that the 2003 contract which underpinned the multinational project "did not provide the necessary conditions" for success.

The 30 March statement was released to "clarify comments made in the press" from a senior figure indicating that the defence and aerospace group may be unable to meet the terms of the programme under current conditions.

The reported comments caused EADS' share price to dive 6.7 percent to EUR8.27 (USD10.8) during early trading on Monday.

The latest comments come after EADS said at the start of 2009 that initial deliveries of the aircraft would not start until three years after the first flight.