Inside Airbus and its parent EADS, there is an understandable sense of mounting exasperation over the costly problems plaguing the development of the A400M military transport programme. Just like the A380 jumbo, the military venture has faced all sorts of delays because of technical and industrial problems that risk provoking ever larger financial penalties.

EADS has set aside €1.7bn to cover the costs of these delays, but the ultimate figure could be much higher – as much as €5bn – according to reports this week that it will take another two-five years to deliver the military transport to its European and foreign export customers.