Airbus chief Tom Enders denies claims he is heading for the exit

Airbus chief Tom Enders has hit back at claims that he will soon step down.

French newspaper Le Figaro reported that Enders told president Emmanuel Macron he would not seek a third term at Airbus, when his second mandate ends in May 2019.

The French government owns 11% of the planes giant, though it has far from complete power over the hiring and firing of executives.

Responding to the report, Enders said via his spokesman: “The decision about my future as CEO of Airbus is not taken by the French press or the French government or any government. It is taken either by the board ... or by me and ideally in consensus between the board of directors and me.”

Airbus is due to have a board meeting tomorrow, where it is assumed the issue will be discussed.

Enders has been under some pressure over his handling of an internal compliance campaign, which has triggered corruption investigations in France and Britain, as well as a separate corruption investigation in Austria.

Airbus has also suffered a two-year sales slump of its flagship A380 jumbo jet.