In October 2006 Airbus revealed the third delay to the A380 programme. Development costs spiralled out of control, to $15bn; three chief executives lost their jobs in succession that year.

The trauma prompted a sweeping modernisation effort that went further in late September with a restructuring announcement by Tom Enders, Airbus Group's chief executive, who says his goal is to close the long-standing profitability gap with Boeing.

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