Airbus chief warns of 'horrible' year ahead

TOULOUSE: The head of European plane maker Airbus, Thomas Enders, warned on Thursday of a "horrible" year ahead for airlines, with the global economic crisis set to sharply reduce demand for flights.

This year "may be much more horrible from the customers point of view than '08," he told journalists.

Last year had been an "annus horribilis from the customers point of view because of the fuel price in the first semester (first half) and the recession and the credit squeeze in the second half of the year."