Would Take Aim At Market Share Of Airbus' Struggling A380

Boeing may produce a super-sized version of its 777 airliner in hopes of knocking out the Airbus A380, which has seen sagging sales in recent years, according to people with knowledge of the plans.

Bloomberg reports that the airplane, tentatively dubbed the 777-10X, has already been pitched to multiple airlines, including Emirates, which has a large fleet of both 777s and A380s.

The sources said the 777-10X would be stretched to carry 450 passengers. That would mean adding an additional four rows of seats to the 777-9, which is set to enter service by the end of the decade. If they can do it, the 777-10X would be the first twin-engine jet to carry more than 400 passengers.

The four-engine Airbus A380 carries between 498 and 615 passengers, according to the company's website.

Tim Clark, president of Emirates, told Bloomberg recently that one if his primary concerns is that Airbus will stop making the A380, and that talks with the planemaker about a re-engined version of the super-jumbo have been put on indefinite hold.

Boeing believes the super-777 would also help stave off competition from a stretched variant of the Airbus A350XWB, which the European planemaker has been discussing with prospective customers, according to the report.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.boeing.com