Airbus A350 is a Long-range airliner. Airbus has listened to its customers, who were interested in the medium size category with greater range
to complement their current Airbus wide-body families. There would be the A350-800 and A350-900, based on the A330-200 and A330-300 respectively, the cabin of the A350 will be 3 inches wider than the A330 ,but with range increases of 1000 miles or more.
The A350 is based on the A330, but with substantial improvements so that Airbus now claims its nearly a new aircraft. Airbus said 15 per cent less Specific Fuel Consumption by the GEnx against the CF6-80E1. It also said the A350 would have 15 per cent less maintenance costs.
The A350 still offers a maximum of operational commonality with the current A330. The A350-800 will typically seat 258 passengers, while the A350-900 has a stretched fuselage and up to 316 seats (two classes configuration).
New technologies used in the A350 are taken from other Airbus programmes, mainly the A380. Airbus proven expertise in the development and application of composites and innovative new materials will be used to incorporate a high percentage of lightweight structural materials,
such as Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) and aluminum-lithium alloys. The extensive use of composite and Al-Li will lead to 17,600 lb. of weight reduction. In December 2004, service entry was predicted for the first half of 2010 for the A350-800, with the –900 to follow later that year.
Air Europa of Spain was revealed as the first airline to commit to the A350-800, after signing a Memorandum of Understanding for 10 aircraft and 2 further options. Deliveries should be between 2010 and 2012.
the Board approved full industrial launch of the program with its partner BAE Systems on October 2005. During the Paris Air Show from 13 to 19 June 2005, Airbus announced orders or commitments for the A350 from Qatar Airways (60),
the Kuwaiti leasing company ALAFCO (12 plus 6 options), GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) (10), Kingfisher Airlines (5) and TAM (8 plus 7 options).
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