PARIS – Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said Wednesday that the European plane maker could join a British-Japanese-Italian consortium to build a next-generation fighter jet after the collapse of a Franco-German rival.

Airbus represented Germany and Spain in the Franco-German scheme that failed amid disputes over the design and Faury said that the German government was now in contact with other countries over possible “partnerships.”

The Airbus CEO told a media call that joining the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) with Britain, Japan and Italy is one “potential” solution but there are also other options.

The three countries have already allotted more than $5.5 billion for the jet, aiming to have it in service by 2035.…