A350 XWB International Airline Group (IAG), and British Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to buy 18 Airbus A350-1...
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IAG, owner of both British Airways and Iberia, 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.
These A350s will replace BAs 30 Boeing 747 between 2017 and 2023.
A350s primary rival is the Boeing 787. FAA has recently cleared a battery improvement, which would resume the now grounded 787 fleet shortly.
The A350-1000 aircraft is powered exclusively by the higher-thrust version of the Trent XWB. Rolls-Royce has won a $1.6bn order, at list prices, from International Airlines Group (IAG) for Trent XWB engines to power its 18 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. The order includes long-term TotalCare® service support.
The choice of the A350-1000 follows British Airways’ 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 world’s leading airlines because it allows them to match aircraft capacity to traffic demand on any route.
The A350-1000 is the largest member of the A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) Family seating up to 350 passengers in three classes, with a range capability of 8,400 nautical miles (15,500 km). The A350 XWB Family includes the A350-900 and A350-800 seating 314 and 270 passengers respectively, offering airlines the ability to match the aircraft to their network needs and thereby guaranteeing optimum revenue potential. Compared to its nearest established competitor, the A350 XWB Family reduces fuel burn by 25 per cent.
The Trent XWB engine, specifically designed for the A350 XWB, is the fastest selling Trent engine ever, with more than 1,200 already sold. It took to the skies for the first time in February 2012 on an A380 flying test bed.
The Trent XWB engine variant that will power the A350-800 and -900 was awarded European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) type certification in February and will power the first A350 XWB into service in 2014.
The announcement follows recent confirmation by IAG that Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines will power 18 Boeing 787 aircraft that it plans to convert from options to firm orders joining 24 that are already on order.
British Airways currently operates a total of 112 A320 Family aircraft. It is one of the world’s only airlines to operate all members of the A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321). British Airways first became an Airbus operator in 1988, when it began flying A320s. The airline added the A319s to its fleet in 1999 and the A321 in 2004.
