Airbus touts 400-seat 'A350-8000' jetliner

Phoenix, Arizona

AIRBUS is seeking airline support for a new 400-seat jetliner provisionally dubbed the "A350-8000" as competition escalates with Boeing over the world's largest two-engined jets, airline and aviation industry sources said.

After talking up the possibility of a new member of its A350 family, the European planemaker has swung into an active pre-marketing phase as it responds to a recent upgrade in the competing Boeing 777 series.