The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus took aim at rival Boeing Friday with an announcement that it will go ahead and build the long-range, medium-size A350 to do battle with Boeing's 7E7 Dreamliner.

The owners of Airbus Industrie, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) and BAE Systems of Britain, said Airbus was nowauthorized to solicit orders for the A350, which would have a seating capacity of 245-285 and should be operational in2010.

Qatar Airways, Aer Lingus and Korean /\irlines are among the potential buyers, according to press reports.

"The long-range market is becoming more segmented in terms of size and capacity," said Airbus chief executive Noel Forgeard.

"Airbus has listened to its customers, who were interested in the medium-size category with greater range."

The A350 is to be offered in two versions, the A350-800, which would cany245passengers and have a range of 8,600 nautical miles (15,900kilometers), and the A350-9O0, which would seat 285 people and have a range of7,500 nautical miles (13,900kilometers).

Boeing has put the market for medium-range aircraft at 2,620 over the next 20 years, while Airbus estimates demand at 3,100 planes In the same period.

Boeing officials have said that such aircraft would be able to serve "fragmenting" long-haul markets, such as the Atlantic and Pacific, as well as shorter routes with a higher potential passenger density, such as in Asia.