TOULOUSE, France - Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin wrapped up a visit to France yesterday by touring the factories of European aircraft maker Airbus in the southwestern city of Toulouse.

The King was the first foreign head of state to visit the new assembly line for the super-jumbo A380, unveiled last week with great fanfare by French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

The A380, designed to carry more than 550 passengers, was developed by Airbus, which is 80-percent owned by the European Aeronautic Defense and Space company (EADS) and 20 percent by BAE Systems of Britain.

In the gigantic assembly plant, which is 46 meters (150 feet) high, the King reviewed the first superjumbo, which will never take to the skies but instead will be used for on-the-ground tests.

Malaysia Airlines is a long-time Airbus client, with 14 A330s in service. The Malaysian flagship carrier ordered six A380s last December, with delivery expected to begin in 2007.

Tuanku Sirajuddin and his wife left Toulouse later Wednesday for Madrid. - AFP