A380

Airbus is reportedly planning to revamp its A380 superjumbo with new engines or launch the stretched version of the aircraft.

Airbus Group aircraft unit head Fabrice Bregier was reported by Reuters as saying that the company’s proposed plans are in line with its efforts to attract new customers.

Bregier said: "We will one day launch A380neo, we will one day launch a stretch. This is so obvious there is extra potential.

"We will get more customers."

Airbus has been struggling to attract new customer for the double-decker jet since it entered service.

"The entire Airbus top management continues to believe strongly in the market prospects of the A380, but any investment by Airbus requires a sound business case, which we will continue to study."

The latest news comes after Airbus chief financial officer Harald Wilhelm said that the company could achieve break even on A380 aircraft until 2018, but it has to offer different engines to make it attractive to buyers or discontinue its production altogether, BBC reported.

The announcement by Wilhelm triggered a negative reaction from Dubai-based airline Emirates president Tim Clark.

Clark said that if Airbus proceeds with plans to upgrade the A380 with Rolls-Royce engines, the airline would replace all the 140 aircraft it had ordered with the upgraded version.

Airbus corporate communications head Rainer Ohler said: "The entire Airbus top management continues to believe strongly in the market prospects of the A380, but any investment by Airbus requires a sound business case, which we will continue to study."

In addition to planned drop in A330 production by 10%, Airbus is planning to further slash the production target of the aircraft in 2016 to an unspecified level.

Image: Airbus plans to launch A380 with new engines or a stretched version. Photo: courtesy of Airbus SAS.

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