Tag Archives: Airbus A350-900

Airbus brings the A350-900 to five U.S. cities including Oshkosh

Airbus (Toulouse) kicked off the U.S. leg of its tour of the Americas by arriving in Atlanta yesterday. The demo tour features a flight test version of the A350-900 XWB, which Airbus is showing off to investors and airlines in Atlanta, Newark, Chicago (O’Hare) and Milwaukee before the general public can experience the A350 XWB at EAA’s AirVenture air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

While it is was in Atlanta, Delta Air Lines employees toured the aircraft, familiarizing themselves with its layout and features. For many of them it will be their first opportunity to get a closer look at what will become the newest member of its fleet in 2017, when Delta accepts the first delivery of its 25 A350 XWBs. Delta currently operates Airbus A319, A320 and A330 aircraft, with additional outstanding orders for each type.

The A350-900 that is in the U.S. this week is a flight test aircraft featuring a two-class cabin. It seats 42 in lie-flat, business-class seats, which are four abreast, and 210 economy-class seats. For passengers, the aircraft will provide new levels of comfort, with extra space in all classes. It features wider panoramic windows, larger overhead stowage compartments and the latest in-flight entertainment and connectivity.

Copyright Photo: Eurospot/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Airbus A350-941 F-WWCF (msn 002) in the Caron Fiber livery is the tour aircraft.

Airbus starts the A350-900 XWB Americas tour in Sao Paulo

Airbus (Toulouse) is bringing the new Airbus A350-900 on a tour of the Americas. The A350-900 XWB, arrived in Sao Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport, officially kicking off the aircraft’s Americas Demo Tour.

The Demo Tour will continue taking flight test aircraft msn 002 to other major airports in Latin America, stopping in Campinas, Brazil and Bogota, Colombia before heading to the United States.

Senior Airline representatives from TAM, the A350 XWB’s launch customer in the Americas, as well as personnel from other Latin American airlines, government officials and media, boarded msn 002 for a static display and demonstration flight over Sao Paulo.

LATAM Airlines Group, made up of LAN Airlines and TAM Airlines, has ordered 27 A350-900s. Synergy Aerospace, Avianca’s main shareholder and owner of Avianca Brasil, has ordered 10 A350 XWB.

The A350-900 that was displayed in Sao Paulo is an Airbus flight test aircraft fitted with a two class cabin with 42 lie-flat business class seats in a four abreast configuration and 210 economy-class seats set at nine abreast. The aircraft is also fitted with special on-board flight test equipment.

With more than 950 aircraft sold and a backlog of nearly 500, 27 customers operate nearly 600 Airbus aircraft throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In May, Airbus celebrated its 500th aircraft delivery in Latin America.

Copyright Photo: Olivier Gregoire/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Airbus A350-941 F-WWCF 9msn 002) in the Carbon Fiber livery is the Americas tour aircraft.

Videos:

The first Airbus A350-900 for Cathay Pacific takes shape

Cathay Pacific Airways (Hong Kong) in February 2016 is due to take delivery of its first new Airbus A350-900 XWB. Airbus has released this update and photo of A350-941 F-WZFX (msn 029 currently under construction at the Toulouse assembly plant:

Assembly of the first A350-900 for Cathay Pacific Airways is progressing well at Airbus’ A350 XWB Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France. Following the fuselage section joining phase, the wings, the horizontal and vertical tailplane as well as tail cone have been joined to the fuselage. Following this, the aircraft will move to the next assembly station for structural completion, ground testing and start of cabin installation.

The aircraft is scheduled for delivery early next year and will be the first of 48 A350 XWBs acquired by Cathay Pacific. Cathay Pacific’s A350 XWB fleet will include 22 A350-900s and 26 of the larger A350-1000s, for operation on long- and medium-haul services.

The A350 XWB has been especially successful in the Asia-Pacific region, where 11 major airlines have ordered a total of 244 aircraft out of the 781 total ordered so far. Cathay Pacific represents one fifth of the A350 XWB total orders from Asia-Pacific.

Photo: Airbus/P. Pigeyre.

Cathay Pacific aircraft slide show: AG Airline Slide Show

Vietnam Airlines becomes the second operator of the new Airbus A350-900

Vietnam Airlines (Hanoi) has become the second airline in the world to operate the all-new Airbus A350-900 XWB, following a special ceremony in Toulouse today (June 30).

The A350-900 aircraft was delivered to global lessor AerCap on lease to the airline for operation on long haul routes and is scheduled to arrive in Hanoi tomorrow. Altogether, Vietnam Airlines is set to acquire 14 A350-900 XWBs, including 10 ordered from Airbus and four from lessors.

Vietnam Airlines will inaugurate commercial service with the A350-900 XWB later this week, initially on the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh domestic sector and then on nonstop flights from Hanoi to Paris (CDG). The aircraft is configured with a premium three class layout, with 29 seats that convert to full flat beds in Business Class, 45 seats in Premium Economy and 231 in Economy. In addition to more personal space in all classes, the aircraft features the latest in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems throughout.

Vietnam Airlines’ new A350-900 XWB will join an existing Airbus fleet of 59 aircraft flying with the carrier, comprising 49 A321s and 10 A330s.

AerCap is Airbus’ largest customer, and has ordered a cumulative total of 945 Airbus aircraft over the years. These include firm orders for a total of 20 A350 XWBs.

To date, Airbus has recorded a total of 781 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 40 customers worldwide, already making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever. The aircraft handed over today is the fifth A350 XWB to be delivered, following the type’s entry into commercial service with its first operator earlier this year.

Vietnam Airlines is also taking delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, an unique situation for an airline introducing two new types at the same time.

Photos: Airbus/Master Films-P. Masclet. Airbus A350-941 VN-A886 (msn 014) in pictured in flight in the updated 2014 livery.

Vietnam Airlines aircraft slide show:

Garuda Indonesia signs LOI for 30 Airbus A350-900 XWB aircraft

Garuda Indonesia (Jakarta) continues to show its intent to order new airliners, now with both Airbus and Boeing. Following the Boeing intent, the carrier has now signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Airbus for the purchase of 30 A350-900 XWB aircraft.

Garuda Indonesia plans to use the A350-900 XWB to develop its medium and long haul network, with the aircraft offering the ability to fly non-stop from Jakarta or Bali to Europe.

The A350 XWB has been especially successful in the Asia-Pacific region, where airlines have ordered a total of 244 aircraft, representing almost a third of the 780 orders recorded so far worldwide.

Image: Airbus.

Garuda Indonesia aircraft slide show:

Video: Pilot Report: Airbus A350-900

Video from Aviation Week: Aviation Week chief aircraft evaluation editor Fred George flew left seat in Airbus’s new big twin, the A350, with Airbus chief test pilot Peter Chandler in the right seat and Christian Norden on the jump seat as safety pilot.

Vietnam Airlines first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to be on display at the Paris Air Show

Vietnam Airlines (Hanoi) will soon take delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (above) from Boeing. The flag carrier will also soon take delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 from Airbus. Both new types have now been painted by the respective manufacturers.

Vietnam Airlines and Boeing have announced the first 787 will be on display at the Paris Air Show. Will Airbus counter with the first Vietnam Airlines A350-900?

Vietnam Airlines has issued this statement:

Vietnam Airlines and Boeing have confirmed that the first of the national carrier’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners will make its very first public appearance in the flying display at the Paris Air Show, which runs from June 15-21, 2015. Resplendent in its fully painted new livery, with the golden lotus – Vietnam’s national flower – taking pride of place, Vietnam Airlines’ new Dreamliner will make its debut in public by performing its first ever demonstration flights at one of the world’s biggest air shows.

This year marks the 51st edition of the Paris Air Show, celebrating more than 100 years since the first world aviation exhibition in Paris. Vietnam Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will be on static display, and perform daily demonstration flights, on June 15, 16, 17 and 18.

Boeing will also hold a series of briefings for the news media during the show. Accredited members of the media should check the daily briefing and announcement schedule at the Media Centre and the Boeing media chalet, located in chalet row A324 for updates.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is the latest extension to Boeing’s super-efficient 787 family. The new aircraft can fly farther, and with more passengers and more cargo, than the Boeing 787-8 – but with the same exceptional environmental performance: 20 percent less fuel usage and 20 percent fewer emissions than the aircraft it will replace. The new aircraft will feature fully flat beds in Business Class, with in-flight WiFi services also set to be introduced. Passengers will also benefit from larger windows and stow bins, modern LED lighting, higher humidity and cleaner air, lower cabin pressure and a smoother, quieter ride.

As it rolls out a major fleet upgrade including a total of 19 Boeing 787s and 14 Airbus A350-900 XWBs, Vietnam Airlines will become the first Asian airline to operate both Boeing and Airbus’ modern next-generation aircraft at the same time. The SkyTeam member will also be the first airline to operate the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner nonstop between Southeast Asia and Europe, with Heathrow becoming the first international destination on the Vietnam Airlines network to be served by the new aircraft. Frequencies will rise from four flights to five or six flights per week between Heathrow and Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City following the deployment of the Dreamliners, before increasing to a daily service for Summer 2016.

Previously scheduled to start on June 29, the new 787-9 Dreamliner will now enter revenue service on the Hanoi-London (Heathrow) route starting on August 2 per Airline Route. The planned Boeing 787-9 service on the Ho Chi Minh – London (Heathrow) route remains unchanged from August 1.

Vietnam Airlines will also introduce its brand new livery, corporate identity and brand image to coincide with the introduction of its new fleet.

Top Copyright Photo: Steve Bailey/AirlinersGallery.com. The first, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner VN-A861 (msn 35151) arrives back at Paine Field after a test flight.

Vietnam Airlines aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Olivier Gregoire/AirlinersGallery.com. Meanwhile Airbus has painted and is testing the first A350-900 XWB for Vietnam Airlines. The pictured A350-941 F-WZFI (msn 014) will become VN-A886 when it is handed over later this year.

Video: Finnair introduces the Airbus A350-900 cabin

Video by Finnair.

Videos: The new Airbus A350-900 tours Asia

Airbus completes the first flight of the first A350-900 for Vietnam Airlines

Airbus (Toulouse) on June 1 completed the first flight in Toulouse of the first Airbus A350-900 for Vietnam Airlines (Hanoi) bearing the airline’s updated and distinctive 2014 blue and gold lotus livery. The aircraft will now enter the final phase of production, including cabin completion, as well as further ground and flight tests. The aircraft, which will be leased from AerCap, is scheduled for delivery in the middle of the year.

Vietnam Airlines will become the first Asian airline to fly the A350-900 XWB and the second operator in the world. Vietnam Airlines will acquire 14 A350-900 XWBs, including ten on order from Airbus and four under lease agreements. The carrier will operate its A350-900 XWB fleet on premium long haul routes, beginning with services between Hanoi and Paris.

Photo: Airbus. The pictured A350-941 F-WZFI (msn 014) will become VN-A886 on delivery.

Vietnam Airlines aircraft slide show: