Airbus Industrie said it began production on 23 January for the A380, its 555-seat jumbo jet that is scheduled to enter service in 2006 as what will then be the world's largest passenger jet. Airbus said the traditional "first metal cut" for the construction of the jetliner took place on schedule at its factory in the western French city of Nantes. Despite the dramatic downturn in the airline industry since Sept.11 and plans by Airbus td cut its work force by 20 percent (about 6,000 people), the company says the A380 will have its first flight on schedule in about two years and service in four.
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