Air France CEO pushing for longer Airbus aircraft

PARIS, June 2 (Reuters) - The head of Air France KLM (AIRF.PA) said the French-Dutch airline was trying to persuade Airbus to make longer aircraft that could carry large numbers of passengers in light of high oil prices.

"If this expanded version was launched, Air France-KLM could order a significant amount," Jean-Cyril Spinetta, chief executive of Air France KLM, told La Tribune in an interview to be published on Tuesday and made available on Monday.

"We are trying to persuade Airbus to launch the A380-900 to make use of it as quickly as possible," Spinetta added.

"The very high level of fuel prices gives a very important place to the A380, notably to a long version."

Airbus is owned by the European aerospace group EADS (EAD.PA).

(Reporting by Astrid Wendlandt, editing by Richard Chang)