The Associated Press: Airbus A350 development on track

Bregier gave few details on how Airbus plans to finance the euro10 billion ($13.26 billion) A350 program. He said the development costs have so far been funded by Airbus and some of its suppliers in a risk-sharing program.

"We are not in a hurry to find other ways despite the difficulties we know our customers will face in 2009," he said.

Airbus may also seek government aid to create a "level playing field" with Boeing's 787, which he said "got a lot of subsidies."