European planemaker Airbus is to begin the production of the A350 mid-sized long-range jet in the first half of October, Airbus CEO Gustav Humbert said on Wednesday.

"We intend to launch the A350 in the first half of October, with the agreement of our two shareholders (EADS and BAe)," Humbert told reporters. "We are convinced that we'll have 200 commitments (to buy) by year-end," he added.

Airbus has gained repayable advances from the French, German, Spanish and UK governments amounting to one third of the A350 program's cost of 4.35 billion euros, said Humbert, adding that talks with the governments have been positive so far and a favourable response on those funds is expected at about the time production is launched.

A350 is designed to compete with US Boeing's fuel-saving 787 "Dreamliner".

Humbert also said that Airbus in talks with 10-15 airlines about its new A380 'superjumbo' aircraft.

Airbus has till now 159 orders, including 149 firm ones, for the A380, with the first deliveries planned for late 2006.

Airbus expects to deliver 360-370 planes in 2005 and more than 400 in 2006, and "significantly" in excess of that figure in 2007,Humbert said. Airbus is 80 percent-owned by the European Aeronautic Defense and Space company (EADS) and British Aerospace (BAE) holds the other 20 percent of the firm.

Source: Xinhua