French Airbus has announced that it plans to build a 900-seat version of its A380 super-jumbo jet. Emirates, the aircraft`s biggest customer, said it would buy the new model. Airbus will begin developing a "stretch" A380 after the standard plane reaches full production in 2010.
The stretched superjumbo, to be designated the A380-900, would be developed once the current edition reaches its maximum build rate of 40 planes a year in 2010. The new jetliner would enter the market around 2015. Airbus has 191 orders for the 555-seat A380, including 58 from Emirates. The biggest Arab airline would fit out the plane to carry 750 passengers on a typical flight.
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