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TAPE_NUMBER: EF/01/0297 IN_TIME: 00:33:50 LENGTH: 02:59 SOURCES: VNR RESTRICTIONS: FEED: SCRIPT: English/Nat XFA Airbus Industrie rolled its new A340-600 out of the factory on Friday, hailing the latest in its fleet of long-range planes as its "longest and largest airliner yet." The A340-600, one of two new long-haul models launched in 1997, is expected to begin commercial flights in 2002. The plane, shown on Friday to customers and suppliers at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, marks the European consortium's latest attempt at beating rival Boeing in the battle for the skies. With trampolining, trapeze artists and performers on stilts, spectators were wowed with an artful acrobatic display to mark the occasion. And dazzling potential customers is precisely the desired effect. With the capacity to hold 380 passengers in three classes and cruise 13,900 kilometers (8,630 miles) nonstop, Airbus says the A340-600 will be Airbus' largest four-engine wide body. It will be powered by Trent 500 Rolls-Royce engines. However, Boeing's 777-200, part of its popular long-haul fleet of 777s, still surpasses its Airbus competitor in range, cruising 16,443 kilometers (10,195 miles) nonstop. But it holds a smaller passenger load of 305. Airbus' A340-500, which will seat 313 passengers with a flying range of 16,000 kilometers (9,920 miles), is also expected to begin commercial flights in 2002. Together, the consortium says the two new Airbus planes have 127 firm orders and commitments from 11 customers. Currently, Airbus' largest commercial jet is the A340-300, which seats 295 and flies 13,500 kilometers (8,370 miles). At the moment, Boeing's biggest jet is the 747-400, which can carry 416 passengers. Airbus has been gradually closing the gap with Boeing since its creation in 1972 and last year reported significantly more aircraft orders for the first time. When Airbus' mammoth A380 - its much touted double-decker 555-passenger super jumbo - enters the skies in 2006, it will surpass Boeing's 747 as the world's largest passenger plane. SOUNDBITE: (English) "They are bigger than the current aircraft, they have an even longer range - by the way - the 500 will have the longest of any current or planned airliner, Fly faster, offer still more comfort to your passengers and overall provide greater efficiency and economics." SUPER CAPTION: Noel Foregeard, Managing Director of Airbus Industrie SOUNDBITE: (English) "With the entry of the service of the A340-500 and 600 we'll be represented on 3 of Airbus' programmes and that means that we expect in the year 2002 to be on about 50 per cent of the aircraft that Airbus deliver in that year." SUPER CAPTION: John Rose, Chief Executive Officer of Rolls Royce SHOTLIST: Toulouse, France, 23 March, 2001 1. Various of Airbus coming out of factory 2. Various of Airbus being put together in factory 3. Pan shot of Airbus at opening ceremony 4. Various of acrobatic display at ceremony 5. Set up shot of Noel Foregeard, Managing Director of Airbus Industrie 6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Noel Foregeard, Managing Director of Airbus Industrie 7. Set up shot of John Rose, Chief Executive Officer of Rolls Royce 8. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Rose, Chief Executive Officer of Rolls Royce 9. Pan shot of stage?