There are insisting rumours about a new Airbus aircraft named A350.
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...hreadid=142417
Quoted from Flight International:
Airbus is also proposing the "A350" to other carriers including Qatar Airways, Lufthansa and Northwest Airlines, say the sources. It would be available shortly before the 7E7's 2008 service entry, they add, and would have the A330-200's fuselage, but substantial wing modifications and more-efficient engines.
If the engine to be installed is that of 7E7 or a derivative, then one can wonder how the A350 can be ready before the 7E7. Does anybody know what kind of efficient engine will be available before 7E7's engine ?
Flight International's article mentioned "substantial wing modification and more-efficient engines". It sounds like heavy modifications that will cost at least 2 billion USD. Will Airbus get a Launch Aid from French, German and Spanish governments ?