South Africa cancels Airbus aircraft order

South Africa has just announced its decision to cancel an order for eight military Airbus A400M aircraft. According to the French company’s programme director, Tom Williams, it is “a total surprise”, reports TV5. The cancellation is due to a rise in cost as well as delivery delays, indicated the South African government, which is also asking Airbus’s parent company, European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co (EADS) to refund its 250 million euro down-payment.