Aircraft

Airbus, which is displaying an A380 in full airline colours for the first time at this week’s Dubai air show, is dismissing the threat posed to its ultra-large airliner by Boeing’s new 747 derivatives. Rejecting as “ludicrous” claims that the 747-8 will provide superior seat-kilometre operating costs, Airbus chief operating officer John Leahy says he is not worried “in the slightest. The type certificate on that aircraft dates to the ‘60s,” he says. A380 MSN004 had Emirates’ livery applied for the show, despite being equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 900s rather than Engine Alliance GP7000s as selected by the Dubai-based carrier.