Aircraft
Airbus sharpens its focus on new A380 family members
Airbus continues to consider stretched, longer-range and cargo versions of its A380 very large airliner, but is no longer studying shortbody or combination

Airbus continues to consider stretched, longer-range and cargo versions of its A380 very large airliner, but is no longer studying shortbody or combination passenger/cargo variants, according to Richard Carcaillet, head of A380 marketing. Carcaillet told AIN that current engineering activity covers development of the 239-foot standard A380-800 (formerly dubbed Series 100) model and work on a heavier, strengthened airframe structure on which to base other versions.

These versions include an extended-cabin A380-900 (formerly called the -200) and the currently suspended A380F freighter, but Carcaillet said he would be “very surprised” if Airbus ever launched a shortbody A380-700 (formerly -50) and that the projected mixed-traffic “Combi” variant has definitely been dropped.