The first A380s will enter service at the end of this year

First announced in February, the pan-European plane-maker aims to cut 10,000 jobs over the next four years as it tries to turnaround its fortunes.

The reductions are part of Airbus's Power8 cost-cutting plan which aims to save 5bn euros (�3.4bn) by 2010.

Airbus is expected to announce further details on Wednesday.

Strike action

Currently the firm plans to close three plants across France and Germany, with the loss of 4,300 French jobs and 3,700 German positions.

In addition it wants to cut 1,600 jobs in the UK and 400 in Spain.

Although Airbus insists there will be no compulsory redundancies, workers at the affected French and German factories have already held a number of strikes.

The woes at Airbus have centred on delays to its giant A380 super-jumbo.

Now running two years late, the plane was hit by wiring problems.

The first A380s are now due to enter commercial service with Singapore Airlines before the end of this year.