four-engined

That has put further pressure on larger four-engined airliners. 

Speaking at IATA's AGM in Cape Town, Lufthansa CEO Christoph Franz indicated that his airline would be ordering twin-engined, but more fuel-efficient, wide-bodied planes like the A350 and latest versions of the 777 to replace the existing four-engined A340s and 747s in its current fleet.

Finally, the four-engined A340 took off, wheeling above South Africa's high veldt as Leahy plied his guests with champagne and sales chat.

In a fire-proof suit, he strapped himself to the four-engined device filled with 30 litres of fuel and flew at 125mph at more than 8000ft, before parachuting to dry land 22 miles later.

Virgin Group boss Richard Branson said he would aim to avoid buying fuel-thirsty four-engined aeroplanes in future to curb fuel costs and the environmental impact of his fast-growing airlines.

However, the airport hopes that the proposals will attract even bigger, four-engined wide bodied jets like Boeing 747s, which have not been able to land at the airport for the past five years because the blast from their outboard engines would have caused too much damage to the runway's "shoulders".

The 48 ordered engines included 24 for 12 twin-engined Airbus A330-200s, 16 for the four-engined A380s and eight spares, said an Etihad spokesperson.

The new four-engined aircraft which are scheduled for delivery between June next year and August 2004 will join 13 medium range A330-200s already operated by the Basle-based airline.

The four-engined long haul A340-600 is due to enter service in June, with the first commercial flights of the ultra long haul A340-500 scheduled for the last quarter of this year.

But the model, a four-engined Boeing 747-100, had an above-average safety record.

Virgin Atlantic in the past favored four-engined planes because he said passengers, staff and pilots preferred them.