Airbus Group Q1 core earnings fall in “challenging year”

(Adds CEO comment, details on programmes)
AMSTERDAM, April 28 (Reuters) – Airbus Group (Swiss: AIR.SW – news) on Thursday posted slightly higher-than-expected core profit and reaffirmed targets for the year, while warning of serious challenges for its A400M military plane and reporting a heavy drain on cash due to delayed jet deliveries.
Widely watched operating earnings before one-off items at Europe’s largest aerospace group fell 23 percent to 501 million euros ($567.6 millio