Qatar Airways is world’s first airline to get the Airbus A350.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, chaired a press conference today at the Airbus Delivery Centre in Toulouse, France, to a crowd of more than 150 international media who had travelled from all corners of the globe to witness the delivery of the first A350 XWB to Qatar Airways, of which the airline is the global launch customer.
“It is truly a remarkable moment – where Qatar Airways, Airbus and Rolls-Royce are proud to be making history.
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.” Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker
The A350 XWB (extra wide body) redefines the way people fly for the coming decades and opens up a new era in comfortable, efficient long-haul air travel when it enters service with Qatar Airways, renowned for leading the industry to new heights in service excellence.
The A350 XWB is an all-new family of widebody aircraft offering 276-369 seats with its three passenger versions: A350-800, A350-900 and A350-1000. In total, Qatar Airways has ordered 80 airplanes: 43 A350-900 jetliners and 37 of the longer-fuselage A350-1000 versions.
The smallest in the family, the 60.54-meter A350-800, is priced at US$245.5 million, while the popular mid-sized A350-900, 66.89 meters in length, is $277.7 million.
The largest of the three lightweight carbon-composite aircraft, the A350-1000, is 73.88 meters long and has a range of approximately 8,400 nautical miles, or 15,600 kilometers. The catalog price is US$320.6 million
The A350 XWB embodies the most 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. Airlines will also benefit from unequalled levels of operating efficiency and cost effectiveness.
“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.” John Rishton, Rolls-Royce, Chief Executive Officer
The A350 XWB is the latest addition to the market-leading Airbus Widebody product line. Offering its customers a game-changing reduction in fuel-burn, the all-new mid-size long-range A350 XWB has carbon fibre fuselage and wings and sets new standards in terms of passenger comfort, operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
“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.” Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO
The A350 XWB set a new standard of comfort and efficiency in its class, with 25 per cent lower fuel consumption compared to its current competitor.
U.S.-based Delta Airlines placed a firm order for 25 A350-900s, while Air Mauritius firmed up its acquisition for four A350-900s. This brings overall A350 XWB bookings to 778 for 41 customers.
