THE boss of Airbus has ended months of speculation by confirming that the plane maker will build a new version of its superjumbo, the A380.

Fabrice Brégier told The Sunday Times that the A380neo, which will have new engines, could be ready for sale in five years. “We will move to the A380neo type. You can say that. Absolutely. We will need it between 2020 and 2025,” he said.

The A380 programme has struggled to find customers; one carrier, Emirates, accounts for about half the 300 planes ordered so far. Without more sales, the production line has only enough work to last to the end of the decade.

Brégier said that as well as new engines, the new version would have better wings, which be