Senior British Airways executives will travel to Airbus's headquarters in Toulouse tomorrow (Tuesday) to take a flight on the A380 superjumbo as part of their fleet-replacement deliberations.

BA is planning a $12 to $15 billion replacement of its ageing longhaul fleet and both Boeing and Airbus are fighting to win this prestigious order.

The airline has traditionally been a Boeing customer and its 57 747-400s comprise the largest jumbo fleet in the world.

However, with space at BA's Heathrow base increasingly limited, the 550-seat A380 could be an attractive alternative to Boeing's smaller 747.

Robert Boyle, BA's commercial director, will lead the team to France. Willie Walsh, the chief executive, will not attend. Airbus is expected to brief the BA team on both the A380 and its new A350XWB, which is a competitor to Boeing's hugely popular 787. The day will end with a flight on the A380.

Airbus is pushing hard to win this order because if BA endorses the A380 it will encourage other airlines to follow the British carrier's lead.

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