The super jumbo fact file

The European commercial aircraft organisation Airbus is betting its future on the development of a new generation of 'super jumbo' jets, which will be capable of flying more people further than any other commercial airliner. BBC News Online lists the key points of the project

The A3XX

• Size: Wingspan 80m, Length 67.4-78.9m

• Passengers: 480-656

• Minimum range (A3XX-100): 7,650 nautical miles (14,150 km)

• Top range (A3XX-100R) 8,750 nautical miles (16,200 km)

• Engines: four Rolls-Royce or Pratt-Whitney-General Electric jet engines

• On-board services: shops, sleeping areas, creche and exercise room over two decks

• Development costs: $10bn-$12bn (£6bn-£8bn)

• Date in service: 2005 to 2007

• Estimated cost of each plane: $220m-250m

• Estimated market: 1,300 planes over 20 years

• Assembly sites: Broughton in north Wales; Hamburg: Toulouse

• Launch customers (confirmed): Air France, Emirates, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, leasing firm ILFC

• Potential customers: British Airways, Lufthansa, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific,

• Jobs: 60,000 (22,000 at BAE Systems)

Airbus Industrie

• Owners: European Aerospace, Defence and Space Company (Aerospatiale Matra - France, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace-Dasa - Germany, Casa - Spain) and BAE Systems - UK

• Aircraft sold/ordered: 556 (1999)

• Sales: $29.4bn (1999)

• Main models: A300 (wide body, short range); A320 (narrow body, short range); A330 (twin engine, long range); A340 (four engine, long range).

• Headquarters: Toulouse, France

• Structure: currently a 'consortium' of independent companies, but due to become a listed company this year. BAE Systems has an option to sell its 20% stake to EADS within three years.