LONDON, Sept 13: European aircraft manufacturer Airbus may have to announce further production delays for its A380 superjumbo jet and seek a fresh cash injection from shareholders, the head of British aerospace group BAE Systems said on Wednesday.

BAE chief executive Mike Turner, whose company is seeking shareholder approval to sell its 20 per cent stake in Airbus to the aerospace firm EADS, made his comments to journalists after BAE had unveiled a strong rise in earnings.

“I would be surprised if there were not more delays” to the A380 programme, he told a press briefing in London.

Earlier, Turner told reporters that he thought Airbus would ask shareholders to provide fresh funds to overcome its problems.