Airbus plans to add more seats to A340

[TOULOUSE] Airbus plans to lift the seat count on the A340 wide-body jet and cut maintenance costs in an effort to prop up the market value for its longest aircraft, which went out of production two years ago after slack sales.

The plan, which needs approval from regulators, would see the seat count on the twin-aisle airliner go to 475, according to a presentation by Airbus and engine makers, in London on Wednesday, to A340 owners. Service costs on the four-engine jet would fall to the equivalent of two powerplants to improve its economics.

Airbus stopped building the plane in November 2011 after customers picked up more fuel-efficient two-engine models such as Boeing's 777 and the shorter Airbus A330. Adding more seats would underpin Airbus's efforts to bolster the A340's value in the secondary market as operators renew their fleets.