Saudi Arabia's Saad Air, which is negotiating to acquire further aircraft to expand its charter fleet, has taken delivery of an A340-600. The cabin is receiving a vip outfit to seat around 80 passengers.

"We are acquiring a wide range of aircraft types for our vip private aviation business," a company spokesman says.

Factors that influenced the purchase decision include fuel saving advanced aerodynamics, extensive use of weight-saving carbon fibre composites, a modern common cockpit and fly-by-wire controls, reliable systems and robust structure. "There is also a worldwide network of technical support, training and spares centres," the spokesman adds.

The A340-600, which joins Saad's A320 Prestige, is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines.