Jobs fears as euro gets stronger
More cuts may have to be made at Airbus if the euro continues to remain strong against the dollar, an executive at the European planemaker has warned. On Friday the euro hit a fresh record high against the dollar of $1.4120. Airbus may have to buy more goods in the dollar zone - where it currently buys about half its supplies. Buying more goods in the dollar zone would help lower costs as it would mean cheaper prices. "If the euro remains durably at $1.45, that would mean we had to find one billion euros in additional savings under Power 8 [restructuring plan]," the company's chief operating officer told a French radio station. "Our reply to a strong euro is, first to be more competitive, second to buy more in the dollar zone," he added.
See "Jobs fears as euro gets stronger", BBC News, BBC News Online, September 20, 2007