Extreme fluctuations in the value of both the dollar and the euro have hit Franco-German aerospace group EADS harder than most in the past 12 months, so it’s no surprise to hear – after a week in which the company’s CEO Louis Gallois announced results well below analysts’ expectation – that the company is finally preparing to take action to reduce their currency risk.

On Tuesday Gallois told London’s Financial Times that the breaching of the $1.50 mark by the euro could signal a prolonged period of exchange rate pain.

Which goes some way to explaining a statement from the company concerning plans to pay suppliers in US currency in the future.

“The ability to pay in dollars is something we will look on favourably in future when negotiating contracts with suppliers,” a spokesman told the BBC.