Airbus has delivered the first A350 XWB, the world’s latest generation widebody airliner, to launch customer Qatar Airways today, from its T...
Airbus has delivered the first A350 XWB, the world’s latest generation widebody airliner, to launch customer Qatar Airways today, from its Toulouse final assembly line in France.
The new generation A350 XWB will set new standards in terms of passenger comfort, operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
The A350 XWB is currently the most advanced commercial jetliner, featuring advanced technologies and breakthrough innovations in aerodynamics, light-weight materials and aircraft systems. Powered by ultra-fuel-efficient and very quiet Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and an extra-wide, bright and spacious cabin, the A350 XWB promises to be a firm favourite with travellers who will discover a whole new way of flying.
Positioned as a successor to the Airbus A330 and A340, it will compete with rival Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and 777 series.
Qatar Airways has 80 total A350 XWB Family aircraft on order, including 43 A350-900s and 37 of the longer-fuselage A350-1000 versions and is scheduled to take delivery of eight of the aircraft by the end of 2015.
Qatar plans to commence commercial service with the A350 XWB between its Hamad International Airport hub in Doha, Qatar and Frankfurt, Germany in January.
Following the press conference and delivery ceremony, media were taken on a short flight onboard the A350, overlooking the Pyrenees mountains in south-western France.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said, “Receiving the A350 XWB as global launch customer is a very proud moment for Qatar Airways, and after much anticipation, I am delighted that the day has come when we will welcome this latest generation aircraft into our rapidly expanding fleet.
“In the seven years since we first placed our order for this new aircraft type at the Paris Air Show, investing in a partnership programme with Airbus, there has been significant growth in the airline industry. I am confident that this increase in passenger numbers around the world will only increase further in the years to come, and delighted that Qatar Airways will be leading the way in the aviation sector in offering our passengers the opportunity to travel on board the most modern of airliners in the sky.”
John Rishton, Rolls-Royce, Chief Executive Officer said: “We are very proud to have worked with Qatar Airways and Airbus on the A350 XWB, using the latest technology to deliver new standards in customer service. This is a very important day for everyone at Rolls-Royce. It is the culmination of years of hard work and the start of a new chapter for our business.”
Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO said: “Handing over the first A350 XWB represents a significant step in Airbus and aviation history. The A350 XWB becomes the most modern aircraft in service, developed with our excellence established over 45 years in meeting our customers’ needs. The A350 XWB is the latest Airbus aircraft to join the skies, revolutionising our industry and redefining the way people fly.” He adds: “It is with tremendous pride that we are delivering our first A350 XWB today to our launch customer, Qatar Airways. It’s a perfect match, to be handing over the first of an all-new, world class aircraft to a leading, world class airline.”
The A350 XWB will comprise a two-class configuration with 36 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, featuring 80” fully flat beds and 17” HD in-flight entertainment screens. Economy Class will comprise of 247 seats, each 18-inches wide in a 3-3-3 configuration, with up to a 32-inch pitch. Each individual seat will feature a 10.6” in-flight entertainment screen, and more space at shoulder level for passengers in window seats, thanks to a vertical side wall panel design.
Priced around $300 million each, the A350 XWB family incorporates the latest in aerodynamic design and advanced materials. Over 70 percent of the A350 XWB’s weight-efficient airframe is made from advanced materials combining composites (53 percent), titanium and advanced aluminium alloys. The aircraft’s innovative all-new Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) fuselage results in lower fuel burn as well as easier maintenance. Along with the fuel-efficient exclusive Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, the A350 XWB offers a 25 percent reduction in fuel burn, as well as lower emissions and maintenance costs for operators.
The jet provides more personal space in all classes – including Airbus’ modern comfort standard of at least 18-inch-wide seats in economy, the latest in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems, wide panoramic windows, large overhead stowage compartments and precise temperature control.
The jetliner received Type Certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and US Federal Aviation Administration in September and November respectively.
Lasting just over 14 months, which is an industry record, the A350-900 flight test and certification programme comprised a five-aircraft fleet which performed over 2,600 flight hours in total. During this campaign, Airbus successfully completed the certification trials which took the airframe and its systems beyond their design limits to ensure airworthiness criteria are fully met.
At the end of November 2014, the A350 XWB had logged 778 firm orders from 41 customers worldwide.
The A350 XWB will operate alongside Qatar Airways’ growing fleet of A380s and A330s, making the carrier the world’s first airline to operate each member of Airbus’ market leading Widebody Family.
Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 17 years of operation, to the point where today it is flying a modern fleet of 142 aircraft to 145 key business and leisure destinations across Europe. At the 2014 Farnborough Air Show, the airline placed an order for 100 Boeing 777X aircraft.
QA has orders for more than 340 aircraft, including Boeing 787s, 777s, Airbus A350s, A380s and A320 Family of aircraft worth $70 billion.
The new generation A350 XWB will set new standards in terms of passenger comfort, operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
The A350 XWB is currently the most advanced commercial jetliner, featuring advanced technologies and breakthrough innovations in aerodynamics, light-weight materials and aircraft systems. Powered by ultra-fuel-efficient and very quiet Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and an extra-wide, bright and spacious cabin, the A350 XWB promises to be a firm favourite with travellers who will discover a whole new way of flying.
Positioned as a successor to the Airbus A330 and A340, it will compete with rival Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and 777 series.
Qatar Airways has 80 total A350 XWB Family aircraft on order, including 43 A350-900s and 37 of the longer-fuselage A350-1000 versions and is scheduled to take delivery of eight of the aircraft by the end of 2015.
Qatar plans to commence commercial service with the A350 XWB between its Hamad International Airport hub in Doha, Qatar and Frankfurt, Germany in January.
Following the press conference and delivery ceremony, media were taken on a short flight onboard the A350, overlooking the Pyrenees mountains in south-western France.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said, “Receiving the A350 XWB as global launch customer is a very proud moment for Qatar Airways, and after much anticipation, I am delighted that the day has come when we will welcome this latest generation aircraft into our rapidly expanding fleet.
“In the seven years since we first placed our order for this new aircraft type at the Paris Air Show, investing in a partnership programme with Airbus, there has been significant growth in the airline industry. I am confident that this increase in passenger numbers around the world will only increase further in the years to come, and delighted that Qatar Airways will be leading the way in the aviation sector in offering our passengers the opportunity to travel on board the most modern of airliners in the sky.”
John Rishton, Rolls-Royce, Chief Executive Officer said: “We are very proud to have worked with Qatar Airways and Airbus on the A350 XWB, using the latest technology to deliver new standards in customer service. This is a very important day for everyone at Rolls-Royce. It is the culmination of years of hard work and the start of a new chapter for our business.”
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| Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Brégier (left) and Executive Vice President Head of Programmes Didier Evrard (right) in front of Qatar Airways’ no. 1 A350 XWB. |
The A350 XWB will comprise a two-class configuration with 36 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, featuring 80” fully flat beds and 17” HD in-flight entertainment screens. Economy Class will comprise of 247 seats, each 18-inches wide in a 3-3-3 configuration, with up to a 32-inch pitch. Each individual seat will feature a 10.6” in-flight entertainment screen, and more space at shoulder level for passengers in window seats, thanks to a vertical side wall panel design.
Priced around $300 million each, the A350 XWB family incorporates the latest in aerodynamic design and advanced materials. Over 70 percent of the A350 XWB’s weight-efficient airframe is made from advanced materials combining composites (53 percent), titanium and advanced aluminium alloys. The aircraft’s innovative all-new Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) fuselage results in lower fuel burn as well as easier maintenance. Along with the fuel-efficient exclusive Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, the A350 XWB offers a 25 percent reduction in fuel burn, as well as lower emissions and maintenance costs for operators.
The jet provides more personal space in all classes – including Airbus’ modern comfort standard of at least 18-inch-wide seats in economy, the latest in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems, wide panoramic windows, large overhead stowage compartments and precise temperature control.
The jetliner received Type Certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and US Federal Aviation Administration in September and November respectively.
Lasting just over 14 months, which is an industry record, the A350-900 flight test and certification programme comprised a five-aircraft fleet which performed over 2,600 flight hours in total. During this campaign, Airbus successfully completed the certification trials which took the airframe and its systems beyond their design limits to ensure airworthiness criteria are fully met.
At the end of November 2014, the A350 XWB had logged 778 firm orders from 41 customers worldwide.
The A350 XWB will operate alongside Qatar Airways’ growing fleet of A380s and A330s, making the carrier the world’s first airline to operate each member of Airbus’ market leading Widebody Family.
Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 17 years of operation, to the point where today it is flying a modern fleet of 142 aircraft to 145 key business and leisure destinations across Europe. At the 2014 Farnborough Air Show, the airline placed an order for 100 Boeing 777X aircraft.
QA has orders for more than 340 aircraft, including Boeing 787s, 777s, Airbus A350s, A380s and A320 Family of aircraft worth $70 billion.
