Ministers from the four Airbus states have highlighted the importance of the A400M military transport, although the new UK coalition government's representative shied away from confirming the country's commitment to its share of a €1.5 billion ($1.8 billion) export sales-related funding package.

German minister Peter Hintze described the aircraft as "moving from being a problem child to a success story". The A400M became the subject of a rescue deal earlier this year that included the export-related financing. UK minister Mark Prisk says the UK "is committed to the development" of the aircraft, but fell short of offering a concrete promise on the funding package. Prisk says the government will clarify the situation "in the weeks and months to come".

Source: Flight Daily News