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Airbus Won't Replace A320 Jets Before 2025

Plane maker says it has no plans to replace its A320 family of medium-range passenger jets before 2025 despite competition from new manufacturers.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Airbus says it has no plans to replace its A320 family of medium-range passenger jets before 2025 despite competition from new manufacturers.

Airbus senior Vice President Rainer Ohler said Tuesday that a new project costing about €10 billion ($13 billion) would not be justified unless it could offer a 25 percent increase in overall performance. He says new technologies needed to achieve this target are not available.

Airbus' rival Boeing has been mulling the replacement of its 737 family -- the best-selling airliner ever -- while Airbus is developing the A350 long-range jet liner and A400M heavy military transport.

Airbus is still working on the newly introduced A380, the largest passenger jet in the world.

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