European planemaker Airbus is to use traditional land-based transport rather than airships to move heavy parts for the new A380 superjumbo between Toulouse in France and Hamburg in Germany. Its decision comes as a blow to Cargolifter, the German-airship company, whose balloons were being considered as a means of transporting the parts. Despite Airbus' decision, Cargolifter is to go ahead with plans to build helium-filled airships to carry freight worldwide. The airships will be built in a 360 metre-long hangar near Berlin.
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