Airbus has ended talks regarding the sale of three German sites to a consortium and blamed the strong euro for complicating the process, the European aircraft maker said on Thursday.

The EADS-controlled group however pledged to look for solutions for the three sites and added talks continued about the partial sale of Filton, finding a partner for Meaulte/Saint Nazaire-Ville and the sale of Laupheim.

The divestment process is a key part of the aerospace group's restructuring aimed at cutting costs in the wake of damaging delays to its aircraft production timetable and the strong euro.

Airbus said it had terminated negotiations with German aerospace group OHB and MT Aerospace about the sale of its site in Nordenham, Varel and the EADS site in Augsburg "since a viable industrial and financial solution was not achievable."

It added that with the euro close to USD$1.60, it would have to "consider different approaches or interim steps" but did not give details.