AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — Airbus faces risks in the development and stepped-up production of two new plane programmes: the superjumbo A380 and the A400M military transport aircraft, the CEO of Airbus parent EADS said yesterday.

"There are still significant levels of execution risk," Louis Gallois told European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. NV shareholders at their annual meeting in Amsterdam.

He did not elaborate, but earlier this month the European aircraft maker announced further delivery delays to its flagship A380 superjumbo. Airbus was already almost two years late delivering the world's biggest passenger plane to launch customer Singapore Airlines last year.

Airbus CEO Tom Enders said on May 13 that the switch from individual production of the planes to serial production was about two to three months delayed. Gallois said yesterday delivery of the double-decker plane could be three to five months late. "Every company wants to have the airplane as quickly as possible," Gallois said, adding that EADS was discussing the matter with its airline customers.

Airbus could be liable to pay financial penalties as airlines demand compensation for late delivery. Gallois said EADS will only know the cost of the latest delays to the A380 when it has finished speaking with customers — around the publication of second-quarter results.

In November, Airbus said a delay to its A400M military transport aircraft could cost as much as 1.4 billion euros ($2 billion) in penalties and other charges.

"We still have some challenges, notably with the wiring and engine management system," Gallois said.

Shares edged down 0.06 percent to 14.91 euros ($23.52) in trading yesterday in Paris.

Gallois also said he expects the pace of Airbus' order intake to slow in the coming quarters as airlines struggle to cope with rising fuel costs, a slowing global economy and tougher access to credit.

He reiterated EADS' 2020 goal to double revenue to around 80 billion euros ($126 billion) as it boosts its defence activities. By then, Airbus should account for half of revenues — up from two-thirds now, he said.

Gallois said EADS will continue to shift production out of Europe to protect the company from the effects of the rising euro, which cuts into profits. Gallois said by 2020 EADS should source around 40 percent of its costs and 20 percent of its employees outside Europe.

Meanwhile, in Paris, judicial officials said French financial investigators were planning to question former EADS co-president Noel Forgeard on Wednesday as part of an investigation into suspected insider trading at the company.

The case centers on EADS' management and main shareholders in 2005 and 2006, when massive amounts of company shares were sold just before announcements that deliveries of the A380 would be delayed.

Gallois said he has complete confidence in EADS' managers named in the investigation.