A cancelled order means plans to squeeze 840 passengers on an Airbus A380 superjumbo have been scrapped.
Indian Ocean carrier Air Austral had aimed to fit the Airbus planes with the highest-capacity seating layout in the history of civil aviation.
The planned 840-seat configuration had led them to be dubbed 'flying sardine cans'.
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But Airbus says that Air Austral has cancelled the two-plane order, which should end any plans for now for the expansion in A380 passenger numbers.
While the A380 was certificated for a maximum 853 people, most airlines operate the model with 450 to 550 seats, with Dubai-based Emirates, the biggest operator, introducing a two-class 615-seat version.
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Emirates will also increase its fleet after it was announced this week they had ordered two additional A380 superjumbos.
The deal has a list price of $865m.
Airbus employs more than 6,000 workers at its wing-making plant in Broughton.
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