European aviation giant Airbus has revealed a provisional deal to sell four A380 aircraft to Transaero, making the carrier the first Russian operator of the superjumbo.

The second largest carrier in Russia will also become only the second to opt for a high-density seating configuration, carrying as many as 700 passengers on long-haul flights.

Air Austral, of France, has also opted to use a seating configuration close to the maximum capacity of 853 seats.

The A380, which entered service four years ago, has a capacity of 525 passengers in standard three-class layout.

Transaero carried 6.65 million passengers last year, 32.3 per cent more than in 2009, and has a fleet of 64 aircraft, almost all of them Boeing.

The Transaero deal will lead to an engine order for either Rolls-Royce or Engine Alliance, a joint venture between General Electric and Pratt & Whitney.

Transaero will announce its selection between the two suppliers in the near future, Airbus said in a statement.