Officials from countries who have ordered the delayed A400M military transport plane from Airbus will meet again next week to discuss the way ahead, after a report of ballooning prices.

"The second meeting in Berlin will take place on December 2 after the first on November 19," a spokesman for the German Defense Ministry said. "We hope to have a solution that everyone can live with by the end of the year."

Airbus parent EADS said on Wednesday it was confirming financial guidance relating to the delayed A400M military transporter program after reports of a potential price increase.

German daily newspaper Die Welt had quoted sources close to the negotiations as saying that the cost of the A400M project would rise by EUR5.5 billion euros (USD$8.3 billion), more than a quarter of the current ceiling of EUR20 billion.

In an article published on Thursday, the newspaper said the countries that had ordered the transport plane were willing to take on at least part of additional costs.

One scenario is based on 40 fewer guaranteed deliveries within the existing 20 billion euro budget, which could mean an implied 25 percent price increase per plane.

A deal, which would also ease the threat of penalties on EADS, would give Airbus some relief on costs but involve no new taxpayer money for the time being, according to the article.

Unallocated planes would not be cancelled but would remain unfunded until economic conditions improved, it said. France, Britain and Spain were seen backing such a framework but Germany was opposed to changes.