Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) is exploring the possibility of a larger variant within its A350 family, Christian Scherer, CEO of the company’s commercial aircraft division, has revealed amid renewed industry interest in bigger, more capable twin-engine jets.
Scherer's announcement, reported by Reuters, came during the Dubai Airshow 2025, where Emirates sparked fresh debate by placing a major order for Boeing's B777X aircraft.
On the same day, Boeing confirmed plans to study an extended version of its B777X after Emirates ordered 65 of the model, reaffirming the Middle Eastern carrier’s commitment to large twin-engine widebodies as part of its fleet growth.
Meanwhile, Embraer is taking a cautious approach toward developing a new aircraft to compete with Airbus’ and Boeing’s offerings. Arjan Meijer, president and CEO of Embraer Commercial, told Bloomberg News at an annual meeting of Asian airlines in Bangkok. He stressed that the company would not rush into any decisions about launching a new commercial plane.
'Whatever we do, it’s going to be another big decision for the company, and we are going to take the time it needs to make a decision,' Meijer said, highlighting the significant financial investment required - likely in the tens of billions of dollars.
Embraer recently ended plans for a next-generation turboprop and has focused on maximising its regional jet line-up, including the E-Series, supported by record revenues and a robust order backlog.
Despite market and employee pressure to develop a new model, Meijer stressed that the company remains 'far away' from committing to any new aircraft programmes, underscoring Embraer’s careful strategic planning amid the shifting competitive landscape.
Based on this, 11th Annual Aeronautical Materials and Manufacturing Technology Forum 2025 is scheduled to take place on December 4-5. The forum will focus on the theme of “Digital Intelligence Empowerment: Technological Upgrades for the Entire Lifecycle of Aeronautical Materials,” delving into innovative breakthroughs in new materials and processes enabled by digital intelligence technology. Discussions will center on key industry topics such as digital intelligence empowerment across the entire lifecycle, green and low-carbon manufacturing, aeronautical materials iteration, and aircraft structural weight reduction. The forum will align with market demands, explore future industry directions, and unite various stakeholders to collectively contribute ideas and efforts toward the green and intelligent upgrading of China's aeronautical materials manufacturing across the entire lifecycle!