"We are asking for your support in adopting several cost containment measures to help our company navigate this unstable situation," it said.

"Our specific focus is on significantly pausing all activities and costs that are not strictly essential to our industrial activities and operations ... We aim to reduce these costs by -10% compared to the 2025 baseline."

Airbus, contacted by AFP, declined to comment.

The memo asked teams not to "engage in any new expenses or any subcontracting activities that are not strictly essential", singling out "team events, team boosters, corporate events, events for other stakeholders, and participation in conferences and events".

It also asked teams not to enter into new agreements or activities, and to cut travel costs.

The economic uncertainty caused by the Middle East war is weighing on the entire aviation sector, as well as on global supply chains in the industry.

At the end of April, Airbus was still planning to deliver a record 870 commercial planes in 2026.

neo-sb/jbo/ach/rmb

Airbus Group