The measures will affect all seven Airbus facilities in Germany and are covered by a 2003 agreement with labor representatives, it said.
``We must take the delay in the delivery of the A380 into account," Gerhard Puttfarcken, managing director of Airbus's German division, said.
``This flexibility agreement that we worked out together will help us to react to the current situation," Puttfarcken said.
Airbus didn't say when the measures would take effect or how much they would save as a result.
Toulouse, France-based Airbus disclosed a radical restructuring program this month after admitting that wiring problems will now delay delivery of the 555-seat A380 for two years.
It said the holdup would wipe $6 billion from the profits of its parent company, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., over four years. Airlines who have ordered more than 150 of the giant aircraft are expected to seek hefty compensation.
The company doesn't plan to disclose details of the restructuring plan, including possible cuts to its regular workforce and switches of production between its various European facilities, until next year.
However, the 2003 agreement with German labor unions rules out firing any regular staff here until 2012.
Detailing its initial measures in Germany, Airbus said it will reduce the work week for underemployed workers to as little as 28 hours.
However, workers will be expected to make up the hours later, when orders are healthier.
It also said it will grant busier workers extra leave to compensate them for overtime and shift staff temporarily between Airbus and parent company EADS to boost efficiency.
