Page 34 - AAA MARCH - APRIL 2018 Online Magazine
P. 34
ates 22 A350 XWB family airplanes. As of
mid-February, 150 A350-900s had been
delivered to 17 operators worldwide. The
worldwide A350-900 fleet reported greater
than 99.2 percent operational reliability,
in the fourth quarter of 2017 (based on a
three-month rolling average). Certification
of the -1000 variant has been remarkably
quick by jetliner standards, with EASA and
FAA taking only one year to certify the new
aircraft, due to the commonality between
A350-900 and -1000. Certification for
the new type was obtained in November
2017. As compared to the 84,000lb thrust
Rolls-Royce Trent XWB which powers the
LONG HAUL erates 97,000lb thrust is the powerplant
A350-900, the Trent XWB-97 which gen-
for the A350-1000. The XWB-97 generates
TRENDSETTER increased thrust by running approximately
six per cent faster than the Trent XWB
even though the front fans of both engines
It is busy season for the A350 XWB have the same number of blades and 118
inch diameter. The additional seven metre
programme at Airbus fuselage length on the -1000 also allows
Atul Chandra 40 more seats be added in a typical three-
class cabin configuration as compared to
the -900.
he A350 XWB programme continues to notch up Cathay Pacific is due to start operations
important milestones and the first two months of with its brand new Airbus A350-1000s from
the year have seen delivery of the first A350-1000
Tto Qatar Airways, roll-out of the first A350-900 Ultra Hong Kong to Washington DC, later in the
year, marking the longest route on its net-
Long Range (ULR) jetliner and the completion of a three work of 13,122 kilometres. “Our customers
week A350-100 demo tour across the Middle East and Asia- have told us they want greater options and
Pacific region. Over the course of the 12 city demo tour, increased flexibility – and we’ve listened.
A350-1000 test aircraft MSN065 covered 35,000 nauti- Much like Hong Kong, Washington DC is
cal miles, performing 24 demonstration flights covering 87 a vibrant and dynamic destination and we
flight hours. MSN065 was also the highlight of the Airbus are thrilled to soon be providing the only
display at the recently concluded Singapore Airshow. 14 direct flights between these two great
major airlines having already ordered a total of 287 A350 cities,” says Cathay Pacific Chief Executive
XWB jetliners, making the Asia-Pacific region a key market Officer Rupert Hogg. Cathay Pacific has 20
Airbus as it accounts for one third of the 854 orders, the Airbus A350-1000s on order.
European airframer has received. Asiana Airlines, Cathay Beyond the Horizon
Pacific Airways, China Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Malaysia The A350-900 Ultra Long Range (ULR)
Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International and was rolled out by Airbus from its final
Vietnam Airlines are all carriers from the region which fly the assembly line in Toulouse on the last day
A350-900 on long haul routes.
Airline Operators of February. The aircraft will now enter into
The first A350-1000 has been delivered to Qatar Airways an extensive ground test regime, follow-
ing which its Trent XWB engines will be
which also introduced the A350 XWB into service. With 39 installed and a short flight test programme
A350-900s and 37 A350-1000s on order, Qatar Airways is will be undertaken to certify the changes
the largest customer for the aircraft. The airline now oper-
34 | March/April 2018 www.GBP.com.sg/AAA
