Airbus counts on year-end deliveries to boost earnings as delays pile up

Toulouse

AIRBUS Group NV has pinned its prospects for 2016 on the final months of the year, saying delivery delays involving the company's newest planes mean annual earnings will hinge on securing a late spurt in output.

Airbus shares have fallen the most in four-and-a-half months, as chief executive Tom Enders laid bare the supply-chain issues affecting the handover of its key A320neo and A350 models and said fresh problems with the A400M military transport may deliver a "significant" blow to future profit.