News that European aircraft maker Airbus is considering developing an extra-large passenger jet by stretching the A350 fuselage has raised expectations of a head-to-head contest with rival Boeing's large 777X.
On the 21st (local time), the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Airbus is weighing the launch of a new wide-body jet (with two aisles) that would carry more passengers by extending the fuselage beyond the existing A350. The industry appears to be calling the model "A350-2000."
Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO of Rolls-Royce, the exclusive supplier of A350 engines, shared the news with reporters at the Farnborough International Airshow in the U.K., which opened on the 20th. Erginbilgic said a decision on whether Airbus will develop the new model could come within the next 12 months. If greenlighted, first deliveries could come in the early 2030s.
If Airbus launches the new model, it would return to the extra-large passenger jet market for the first time in about a decade since it decided in 2019 to end production of the double-deck A380. Since the A380's discontinuation, Boeing's 777X, which can carry up to 450 people, has effectively been the only next-generation option in the large aircraft market.
An Airbus representative said the company has not yet finalized whether to develop the new wide-body jet but is looking at ways to expand the A350 family. "There is clearly market demand for large wide-body jets," the person said, adding, "We are reviewing ways to evolve the A350 to meet that demand."
According to the industry, Airbus is reviewing a plan to slightly stretch the fuselage using the existing XWB-84 engine, as well as a plan to stretch it further by installing a new engine with greater thrust and diameter. Engine and airframe development are expected to take about 6–7 years.
Erginbilgic said, "It appears Airbus has not yet made a decision, but Rolls-Royce is working with Airbus on related efforts." He added that he understands Airbus is moving toward developing a larger model.
If the new model is developed, Airbus would likely compete directly with the largest member of Boeing's 777X family, the 777-9. The 777X family, an upgraded version of Boeing's popular 777, has seen commercial service delayed by seven years from the original plan due to production setbacks and regulatory certification delays. Dubai's Emirates, the largest 777X customer, expects to take delivery of its first jet around mid-next year. The initial delivery target was 2020.
However, Emirates President Tim Clark has questioned the 777X's commercial viability, because design improvements introduced by Boeing were not reflected in the early airframes. In a recent interview, he sharply criticized that the first 10 already-built 777X jets should be scrapped and turned into baked bean cans. Clark later explained the remark was a joke, but maintained that early units would be difficult to use commercially.
Boeing is accelerating certification and deliveries of the 777X. Kelly Ortberg, who became Boeing CEO in 2024, is seeking approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for two new models, the 777X and the 737 Max, to stabilize the finances of a company shaken by successive crises.
Boeing reflected about $5 billion in losses in its accounts last year to account for delays and setbacks in the 777X program. Ortberg said certification is taking longer than expected, pushing back the timing of revenue.