Singapore Airlines (Singapore) has placed a firm order with both Airbus and a tentative order with Boeing according to Reuters. The airline has ordered 30 additional Airbus A350-900s. Some of the A350-900s can be converted to the larger A350-1000s. Additionally Singapore has tentatively placed an order for 30 stretched Boeing 787s. Boeing has not yet made a decision to launch this new variant.
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Image: Airbus.
Singapore Airlines:ย 
Airbus (Toulouse) has completed the painting of the first A350 XWB (msn 001). On May 13 the new type was fully completed as it emerged in its Airbus livery out from the paintshop in Toulouse. This latest milestone shows that msn 001 is progressing well on its route to first flight.
The aircraft painting was achieved in less than seven days and follows the recent completion of msn 001โs flight-test-instrumentation (FTI) verification. Last month the aircraft underwent its engines installation, and passed a subsequent intensive phase of ground vibration tests. Msn 001 will soon start the final tests before its maiden flight this summer.
Copyright Photos: Airbus. The new airliner is officially an A350-941 with the registration of F-WXWB (msn 001).
Kuwait Airwaysย (Kuwait City) is planning to orderย 10 Airbus A350-900s and 15 A320neo aircraft according to this report by Reuters.
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Copyright Photo: Paul Denton. The new Airbus aircraft will replace the older Airbus aircraft. Agingย Airbus A300B4-605R 9K-AME (msn 721) taxies at Geneva.
Kuwait Airways:ย
International Airline Group (IAG) (London) and British Airways (London) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to buy 18 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft plus 18 options, as part of the airlineโs on-going long-haul aircraft fleet renewal and modernisation strategy.
IAG, owner of both British Airways and Iberia (Madrid), has also secured commercial terms and delivery slots that could lead to firm orders for Iberia. Firm orders will only be made when Iberia is in a position to grow profitably, having restructured and reduced its cost base.
The choice of the A350-1000 follows British Airwaysโ decision in 2007 to buy 12 Airbus A380s, the first of which will be delivered this summer. Operating the A380 and A350 together delivers real value to the worldโs leading airlines because it allows them to match aircraft capacity to traffic demand on any route.
Image: Airbus.
British Airways:ย
Japan Airlines-JAL (Tokyo) has been a loyal Boeing customer. However the recent problems with the much-delayed Boeing 787 may have soured that relationship. According to Nikkei, the company is now considering an order from rival Airbus for 20 Airbus A350s and it will make a decision in June. However this may also be a ploy to get better terms and compensation from Boeing for the 787 delays. JAL is considering replacing its current Boeing 777-300 ERs with the new Airbus A350-100s for its European routes.
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Copyright Photo:ย Akira Uekawa.ย Boeing 777-346 JA8941 (msn 28393) approaches the Tokyo (Haneda) hub for landing.
JAL-Japan Airlines:ย
Airbus (Toulouse) has moved the first A350 XWB โ msn 001 โ now showing its completed wings, to its next phase of ground testing, from Roger Bรฉteille A350 XWB FAL โStation 30โ to the Clรฉment Ader area โStation 18โ in Toulouse. The aircraft is structurally complete and shows the installed winglets, belly fairing panels, main landing gear doors.
The aircraft has recently completed successfully a series of indoor ground tests including stability tests on โmovableโ elements such as rudder, elevators, ailerons and wing spoilers and landing gears extraction/retraction. The next steps which will take place outdoors at Station 18 will include three planned families of tests: Fuel tanks testing โ including levels, flows, sealing and internal fuel transfer functions; pressure testing of the fuselage; and radio equipment testing.
Copyright Photo: Airbus.
Airbus (Toulouse), not wanting the same battery problems as Boeing with the 787, has invoked its “Plan B” to use the older technology of nickel cadmium batteries instead of the newer lithium ion batteries on its new A350 XWB program. Airbus issued this statement:
“Airbus is confident that the lithium ion (Li-ion) main battery architecture it has been developing with Saft and qualifying for the A350 XWB aircraft is robust and safe. The A350 XWB flight test program will continue as planned with the qualified Li-ion main batteries.
However, to date, the root causes of the two recent industry Li-ion main batteries incidents remain unexplained to the best of our knowledge. In this context, and with a view to ensuring the highest level of program certainty, Airbus has decided to activate its โPlan Bโ and therefore to revert back to the proven and mastered nickel cadmium main batteries for its A350 XWB program at Entry into Service (EIS). Airbus considers this to be the most appropriate way forward in the interest of program execution and A350 XWB reliability.
In parallel, Airbus has also launched additional maturity studies on Li-ion main batteries behavior in aerospace operations and will naturally take on board the findings of the ongoing official investigation.
As a result of making this decision now, Airbus does not expect it to impact the A350 XWB Entry Into Service schedule.”
Image: Airbus.
Virgin Australia Holdings Limited (Virgin Australia Airlines) (Brisbane) is making three bold moves. The company issued the following statement:
Virgin Australia Holdings Limited today announced three transactions designed to accelerate the growth of the business, diversify its earnings and increase competition in Australia.
The transactions include:
Virgin Australia Chief Executive Officer John Borghetti said: โThe transactions announced today are in line with Virgin Australiaโs strategy to become the airline of choice in all markets, in order to diversify our earnings and drive growth opportunities for the business.
โThe acquisition of Tiger Australia and Skywest provides Virgin Australia with a strong presence in the budget, Fly-in Fly-Out (FIFO) and regional markets, enabling us to fast-track our expansion in these areas and become a stronger competitorโ, Mr Borghetti said.
โThese transactions will bring important benefits to Australia, driving growth in jobs, tourism and competitionโ, Mr Borghetti said.
If approved, following the completion of the transactions, the Virgin Australia Group will expand to 139 aircraft and over 9,000 employees .
Virgin Australia will keep the market updated regarding progress on these transactions.
Meanwhile partner Singapore Airlines (Singapore) has ordered 20 Airbus A350-900s and five A380s and will assign its 20 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to subsidiary Scoot (Singapore).
Top Copyright Photo: Lloyd Fox. If approved, Skywest Airlines (Perth) will become a 100% subsidiary of Virgin Australia. The regional carrier is already operating ATR 72-500s for Virgin Australia in their livery. The Skywest brand used for other Western Australia routes is now likely to disappear.
Virgin Australia:ย 
Skywest Airlines:ย
Tiger Airways (Australia):ย 
Bottom Copyright Photo: Micheil Keegan. Since Singapore Airlines and its Tiger Airways (Australia) subsidiary are now partners with Virgin Australia, it is unclear if Tiger Airways (Australia), a competitor of Virgin Australia, will continue to use the the Tiger Airways brand in Australia or operate now under the Virgin Australia name. Airbus A320-232 VH-VNO (msn 4053) climbs away from Sydney.
Cathay Pacific Airways (Hong Kong) today announced that it intends to add the A350-1000 to its future A350 XWB fleet, with an agreement to place a new order for 10 aircraft. In addition, the Hong Kong-based airline will convert 16 of its existing orders for the A350-900 to the larger A350-1000. The acquisition of the A350-1000, which is subject to the approval of the Board of the airline, will bring the total number of A350 XWB aircraft ordered by Cathay Pacific to 48. The airline also has separate lease agreements to acquire two more aircraft.
The A350-1000 is the largest version of the A350 XWB family and typically seats 350 passengers in a three class layout. The aircraft is capable of flying 8,400 nautical miles non-stop and will be operated by Cathay Pacific on higher density routes, including its longest non-stop flights to Europe and North America. The aircraft will be powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines delivering 97,000lbs of thrust โ the most powerful engines ever developed for an Airbus aircraft.
Image: Airbus.
Cathay Pacific:ย 
Airbus (Toulouse) has decided to delay the entry of the long-range A340-1000 by two years until mid 2017 as it waits for more powerful Trent XWB engines. The entry of the A350-800 was also delayed by two years to mid 2016.
Airbus issued the following statement on the eve of the Paris Air Show:
“Airbus and Rolls-Royce will jointly develop the A350-1000 with more powerful Trent XWB engines. In doing so, Airbus has responded to the marketโs call to offer even more payload and range. The enhanced version of the Trent XWB engine will be fully optimised for the largest member of the A350 XWB Family and will deliver up to 97,000lbs of thrust on takeoff, making it the most powerful engine ever developed for an Airbus aircraft. The entry into service is set for mid 2017.
The extra thrust together with an increased aircraft takeoff weight capability of 308 tonnes will enable airlines to fly the new A350-1000 approximately 400nm further with a full load of 350 passengers, or carry around 4.5 extra tonnes of payload at a given range. The A350-1000โs payload-range capability will perfectly support the development of long haul-routes for emerging markets such as Shanghai-Boston or Paris-Santiago, as well as more traditional ones like Manchester-Los Angeles or Dubai-Melbourne, while burning 25 percent less fuel than its nearest competitor.
The A350 XWB Family consists of three passenger versions with true long-range capability. Offering three different sizes, airlines can best match their A350 XWB fleets to route capacity demands, guaranteeing optimum revenue potential. The A350-1000 is the largest of these and will typically accommodate 350 seats. To date, four key customers have ordered a total of 75 A350-1000s. Airbus forecasts a demand over the next 20 years for around 5,800 new twin-aisle mid-size passenger aircraft.”
Image: Airbus.
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