Ethiopian Airlines signs MoU for 11 Airbus A350-900s jets

Ethiopian’s flagship carrier, Ethiopian Airlines Group, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for 11 additional Airbus A350-900s to be added to its existing fleet. The latest agreement takes Ethiopian Airlines’ total order book and commitment for the A350 to 33, including four A350-1000s.

Ethiopian Airlines currently operates a fleet of 20 A350-900s and with this commitment, it will confirm its position as Africa's biggest A350 customer.

The signing of the MoU took place at Dubai Airshow in the presence of Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew and Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International, Christian Scherer.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said, “We are excited to place this commitment for 11 Airbus A350-900s. As a customer focused airline, we are particularly excited for this fleet as it offers extra comfort to passengers with its features like the quietest cabin in its class and ambient lighting. We are keen to expand our fleet size, acquiring the latest technology aircraft to offer a convenient and memorable onboard experience to our esteemed passengers.”

 

KLM to invest in cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient long-haul aircraft with an order of new Airbus A350s

KLM plans to renew its older generation long-haul fleet with Airbus A350 family aircraft in the coming years. The Airbus A350 is acknowled­ged as the most fuel-efficient and silent aircraft of its generation. These new wide-body aircraft have substantial benefits in terms of reducing CO2 emissions and noise impact. Procurement is subject to the recommendations of the KLM Works Council.

Marjan Rintel, CEO KLM said "Today marks a very special day for KLM. We have taken a big step towards our future with the proposed decision of purchasing new aircraft. We can make our fleet significantly cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient with the A350s. This is important, because we are all faced with the major task of becoming more sustainable. Furthermore, we can offer our passengers much more service and comfort on intercontinental destinations."

The Air France KLM Group has signed an agreement with Airbus for a total of 50 Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft, with an option for 40 further aircraft. The 50 aircraft have been ordered and will be allocated between KLM and Air France according to local market dynamics and regulatory conditions. KLM expects to begin deploying the Airbus A350 on intercontinental flights from 2026, replacing its Boeing 777-200ERs, Airbus A330-200s and Airbus A330-300s.

More sustainable and quieter

The new Airbus A350 constitutes a major step in building a cleaner and quieter fleet, producing 40% less noise and burning 25% less fuel than similar aircraft of the older generation. The hull of the aircraft largely consists of reinforced, lightweight materials (composites and titanium), ensuring that longer distances can be covered with less fuel. In combination with the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other operational innovations and efficiency gains, these new aircraft will significantly contribute to making operations cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient. The Airbus A350 is also important in terms of customer experience, comfort and efficiency.

Turkish Airlines orders more Airbus A350 jets

Türkiye’s national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, has announced a new order for 10 additional A350-900 aircraft, taking its total for the type to 40. This latest agreement is in addition to one announced in August for four A350-900s. Turkish Airlines already operates a fleet of 14 A350-900s.

Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International, said, “We are delighted that Turkish Airlines has decided to further enlarge its fleet with the purchase of 10 more A350-900 aircraft. With greater range capability, passenger capacity and comfort, the A350 is the perfect platform to connect Istanbul to the world. This repeat order demonstrates the confidence for our unique new generation aircraft that offers airlines unbeatable economics and efficiency. We are proud to keep expanding our long-lasting partnership with Turkish Airlines and Türkiye’s aviation sector overall.”       

At the end of July, the A350 had won over 1,000 orders from leading carriers from around the globe. The A350 is the world’s most modern and efficient widebody aircraft and the long range leader in the 300-410 seater category. Its clean sheet design includes state-of-the-art technologies, aerodynamics, lightweight materials and new engines that together deliver 25 percent advantage in fuel burn, operating costs and CO2 emissions, as well as 50 percent noise footprint reduction compared to previous generation competitor aircraft.

SWISS to enlarge Premium Economy cabin for its Airbus A350s

SWISS has reached a further milestone in its project to add the Airbus A350-900 to its aircraft fleet: the cabin layout for the new long-haul twinjet has now been completed, finalizing how many seats will feature in each cabin class. SWISS’s new Airbus A350-900s will seat a total of 242 passengers. And its Premium Economy Class will be larger than those on its existing long-haul aircraft types at 38 seats, reflecting a growing demand for such premium leisure air travel.

The addition of the Airbus A350-900 to the Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) aircraft fleet, which has been scheduled for 2025 onwards, is taking further shape. Switzerland’s biggest airline has now finalized the specifications for the factory-new long-haul twinjets’ passenger cabins, marking a further milestone in the project to date. SWISS has thus determined how large each seating cabin will be, along with their seat configurations, aisles, toilets and galleys, and has also finalized how many seats will be available in each class of travel. The new Airbus A350-900s will also feature the new ‘SWISS Senses’ cabin concept, which will offer SWISS customers a totally new and more personalized air travel experience.

Premium Economy Class enlarged

The new SWISS Airbus A350-900 will seat 242 passengers in total: three in First Class, 45 in Business Class, 38 in Premium Economy Class and 156 in Economy Class.

At 38 seats, the Airbus A350-900’s Premium Economy Class will be substantially larger than those on SWISS’s existing long-haul aircraft. In expanding Premium Economy, Switzerland’s biggest airline is responding to the growing demand for air travel in the premium segment, particularly among leisure travellers.

British Airways and Griffin Global Asset Management complete four aircraft sale and lease back deal

Griffin Global Asset Management has announced the purchase and leaseback of two new Boeing 787-10 aircraft and two new A350-1000 aircraft on long-term lease to British Airways.

“Griffin is extremely pleased to welcome British Airways as a new customer with the deliveries of these two 787-10s and two A350-1000s.  Our management team has a relationship with British Airways that spans decades, and we look forward to continuing to support their growth for many years to come. The A350 and B787 are core to BA’s fleet renewal program, and these four new fuel-efficient aircraft will assist the group in furthering its agenda to put sustainability at the heart of their business,” said Marc Baer, President of Griffin.

Griffin is a commercial aircraft leasing and alternative asset management business with offices in Dublin, Ireland, Puerto Rico, and Los Angeles, CA.  Griffin’s team of aviation professionals works closely with airlines, OEMs, and financiers to deliver customized fleet solutions and innovative financing products to airlines globally.  

Air France-KLM and Airbus enter into exclusive negotiations for the creation of a joint venture dedicated to Airbus A350 component support

Air France-KLM and Airbus entered into exclusive negotiations for the creation of a joint venture dedicated to Airbus A350 component support.

This partnership between Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance and Airbus would entail an optimized commercial offering for customers, as well as the creation of a worldwide pool of aircraft components.

Paris, Toulouse, 04 September 2023 – Air France-KLM and Airbus today announced that Air France SA (“Air France”) and Airbus SAS (“Airbus”) have entered into exclusive negotiations to establish a joint venture for the provision on a worldwide basis of Airbus A350 component maintenance services (supply chain management, repairs, creation of a worldwide pool of aircraft components).

The envisaged cooperation would take the form of a 50-50 joint venture between Air France and Airbus and involve the transfer of aircraft components assets belonging to both partners into the joint venture’s pool.

This joint venture, combining the expertise of Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance and Airbus, would entail an optimized commercial offering, aimed at better meeting the growing long-term maintenance needs of the Airbus A350 worldwide fleet (more than 1,000 aircraft on order and 550 currently in service worldwide) through enhanced capacity, an expanded global footprint, and the development of innovative solutions to the benefit of the customers.

The objective is for the joint venture to be operational by the first half of 2024 in line with all compliance requirements and subject to approval by all relevant authorities.

Ethiopian Airlines to return to London Gatwick from November.

Ethiopian Airlines has confirmed it will start a thrice-weekly service between Addis Ababa and London-Gatwick from 21st November 2023.

The carrier will fly every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday with flights departing Addis at 00:15 arriving at Gatwick at 05:15 with the return flight departing Gatwick at 10:10 and landing in Addis Ababa at 20:40.

The new service by Ethiopian will offer a direct flight between London-Gatwick and Addis Ababa onboard Airbus A350 with Business Class and Economy cabins, providing seamless connectivity to Ethiopian Airlines’ vast global networks stretched across Africa,  Far East, the Americas and Asia. 

Regarding the commencement of the flight Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr Mesfin  Tasew said, “We have a 50-year relation with the UK. We give high regards to our Heathrow services and now we are excited to add Gatwick to our vast global network. We are ready to stretch our reach to Gatwick and provide our renowned, award-winning services. History has it that we last served Gatwick in 2005 and 2006 using the Boeing 757. Now the route will be served by the most modern Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Over the years, we have established commendable partnerships with over 100 UK-based companies in the aviation sector. Our expansion in the UK, among others,  will enable us to nurture this cooperation and partnership to a higher level.”

Mr. Henock Woubishet, Area Manager UK & Ireland commenting on the new service said, “The UK is a strong and important market for Ethiopian. Adding London-Gatwick to our  UK schedule is truly great news as it will enable us to provide much-needed capacity not only for our passengers but also for our cargo services carried in the belly hold. Ethiopian will now serve  London Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester Airports.” 

Stephanie Wear, VP of Aviation Development, at London Gatwick said, “We are delighted to welcome Ethiopian Airlines back to London Gatwick this winter. As the largest carrier in Africa,  this is an excellent addition to our network and adds a valuable, direct connection to Eastern  Africa. Ethiopian Airlines is the latest in a number of carriers looking to operate long-haul routes from Gatwick, which further highlights the strong demand for slots at our airport. It’s also  fantastic news for passengers across London and the South East to have more choice and direct  services to Addis Ababa, as well as greater opportunities for onward connections across Africa,  Asia and the Middle East.” 

London Gatwick is the UK’s second-largest airport and is a vital piece of national infrastructure that helps drive both the regional and national economy. More than 40 airlines fly from the airport to over 150 short-haul and more than 45 long-haul destinations. The airport is focused on rebuilding and growing sustainably in the long term. It has ambitious plans to be a net zero airport by 2030 and increase capacity by bringing its Northern runway into routine use.  Vinci Airports owns a 50.01% stake in the airport, with Global Infrastructure Partners managing the remaining 49.99% interest. 

Jonathan Pollard, Chief Commercial Officer, London Gatwick said: “Returning to 50 long-haul routes is a milestone moment for London Gatwick. While we’re delighted to offer passengers such an expansive range of short-haul routes across Europe, we’re also proud to provide connections to an increasing range of destinations around the world. 

These services are vital not only for offering people across London and the South East an excellent choice of holiday locations, or for visiting family and friends, but also for supporting local and regional businesses. Whether that’s outbound trade or inbound tourism, growing London Gatwick’s long-haul network is crucial for economic opportunities across the region. 

We look forward to welcoming Ethiopian Airlines to London Gatwick. This is the latest in a number of carriers looking to operate long-haul routes from Gatwick, which further highlights the strong demand for slots at our airport.” 

Air Mauritius and Airbus confirm order for three A350 aircraft......

Air Mauritius has confirmed an order for three Airbus A350 aircraft to expand its network in Europe and South Asia.  The three latest generation aircraft will bring Air Mauritius’ A350 fleet to a total of seven. The airline already operates four A350 and four A330 Airbus aircraft. 

The A350 is the world’s most modern and efficient widebody aircraft and the long-range leader in the 300-410 seater category. The A350 offers the longest range capability of any commercial airliner Family in production today with a range of up to 9,700nm non-stop. 

"Air Mauritius is proud to renew its confidence in Airbus and its products, continuing a three-decade-long partnership. The additional A350-900 aircraft will help us strengthen our European network and secure further growth in other markets. We are looking forward to achieving our ambition objectives together with Airbus," said Mr Kresimir Kucko, CEO of Air Mauritius. 

“We complement Air Mauritius on putting the A350 at the heart of its long-haul fleet modernisation programme. With greater range capability, better economics, passenger capacity and comfort, the A350 is the perfect platform to connect the beautiful island of Mauritius to the world," said Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International at  Airbus.

The A350’s clean sheet design includes state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering unmatched standards of efficiency and comfort. Its new generation engines and use of lightweight materials make it the most fuel-efficient large widebody aircraft. The A350 is the quietest aircraft in its class with 50 percent noise footprint reduction vs the previous generation aircraft.

7 widebody Airbus order for Air Algérie

Air Algérie orders five A330-900s and two A350-1000s

The national airline of Algeria, Air Algérie has confirmed an order for seven widebody aircraft from leading aircraft manufacturer, Airbus to support its commercial development.

Air Algérie seeks to both strengthen its regional services as well as offering an ambitious schedule of transcontinental destinations. The order for A330s and A350s will ensure the carrier has the capacity for its plans and also benefit from operational savings such as a 25%t lower fuel burn per seat and greater flexibility resulting from the unique commonality between members of the Airbus aircraft Family.

Both the A330neo and the A350 feature the award-winning Airspace cabin, which offers passengers a high level of comfort, ambience, and design. This includes more individual space, enlarged overhead bins, a new lighting system and access to the latest in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems.

Both the A330neo and A350 are powered by the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent engines and offer a range of 7,200 nm and 8,700 nm respectively. These jets will help cement Air Algérie's future development and increase its route network. 

The national airline of Algeria has a rich and colourful history which spans more than six decades since being established in 1947.  Air Algérie has played a vital role in connecting Algeria with the rest of the world, especially during difficult times. 

Lufthansa and Airbus mark delivery of 600th Lufthansa aircraft at Airbus’s Hamburg-Finkenwerder site

The delivery to Lufthansa of its first Airbus A300B2 on February 9, 1976 laid the foundation for a strong partnership within European civil aviation that has now extended almost 50 years. With more than ten different Airbus aircraft types supplied since then to almost every air operator in the Lufthansa Group, today saw the 600th such aircraft – an Airbus A321neo – handed over to Lufthansa in a formal ceremony at Airbus’s Hamburg-Finkenwerder site.

Four-time launching customer and the third-biggest A350 customer

600th Lufthansa aircraft formally named ‘Münster’

Special livery for the milestone A321neo unveiled in delivery ceremony at   Hamburg-Finkenwerder

Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Lufthansa Group Executive Board:  “Lufthansa and Airbus are united by a very special partnership. Ever since Airbus’s creation, we have enjoyed close and trusting collaborations on a wide range of research projects and new developments. Lufthansa has also served no fewer than four times as Airbus’s launching customer for a new aircraft type, most recently for the A320neo family that is proving such a success. Lufthansa has ordered every family of aircraft that Airbus has developed over the past five decades. And more than 90 per cent of the 600 Airbuses that we have taken delivery of during that time are still in Lufthansa Group service today. We also wish to welcome our 700th Airbus to our fleet as part of Lufthansa’s centennial celebrations in 2026.”

Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO:  “Lufthansa and Airbus have been partners ever since we delivered the first Lufthansa A300 back in February 1976. Since then, Lufthansa has taken delivery of an Airbus aircraft an average of every month – 600 of them in almost 50 years! No other airline group has received more of our aircraft to date. My particular thanks, on behalf of everyone at Airbus, go to all the teams at Lufthansa for all their confidence and trust. We look forward to the next 50 years of our partnership and our shared commitment to the goal of sustainable air travel.”

The story to date

Lufthansa signed its first purchase agreement with Airbus for three A300B2s in 1975 and received its first such aircraft from Europe’s new manufacturer seven months later on February 9, 1976. Subsequent years saw the first deliveries of further Airbus types: the A310 in 1983, followed by the A300-600 in 1987. The first Airbus A320 to join the Lufthansa fleet was delivered in October 1989. Over 370 aircraft of the A320 family are in service today with the various airlines of the Lufthansa Group. The first A340 followed in 1993; and just one year later the Lufthansa Airbus fleet passed the 100-aircraft mark. The A330 followed in 2004; and in 2010 the A380 – the world’s largest passenger aircraft – joined the Lufthansa long-haul fleet.

Lufthansa has also served as launching customer for a new Airbus type on four occasions to date: for the A310, the A340, the A220 and – in 2016 –A320neo. Not only the Airbus A320 family is a cornerstone of today’s Lufthansa fleet: the A350-900, which first arrived in 2016, has also become a key component in the Lufthansa long-haul fleet, and the Lufthansa Group is the world’s third-biggest A350 customer.

600th Airbus named ‘Münster’

The 600th Airbus aircraft to be delivered to Lufthansa, which bears the registration D-AIEQ, is an Airbus A321neo. Seating 215 passengers, the A321neo is a state-of-the-art and fuel-efficient short- and medium-haul twinjet that has been in Lufthansa service since 2019. D-AIEQ has been named ‘Münster’ after the German city.

Partners in sustainability, too

Lufthansa and Airbus attach particular importance to their collaborations on the sustainability and the research & development fronts. Over the last three decades, the Lufthansa Group has equipped several of its long-haul Airbus aircraft with instruments to conduct climate and weather research. In addition to three such Airbus jets that are presently gathering climate-related data for scientific purposes, Lufthansa is also working with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology on a world-first project to convert a Lufthansa Airbus A350-900 into a research aircraft.

Lufthansa performed its longest non-stop flight to date in 2021 when it flew one of its Airbus A350-900s from Hamburg to Mount Pleasant on the Falkland Islands on behalf of the Alfred Wegener Institute. The same year also saw a Lufthansa A350-900 converted into a climate research aircraft for the CARIBIC Project.

Back in 2011 Lufthansa was the first airline to trial biofuel in its daily flight operations. For some six months, a Lufthansa Airbus A321 was operated on the Hamburg-Frankfurt route with one of its two engines powered with a fuel blend consisting 50% of biosynthetic kerosene. In the same year Lufthansa teamed up with the Forschungszentrum Jülich to conduct a new type of long-term climate research study using scheduled air services to monitor the Earth’s atmosphere. As part of this IAGOS research project, specially developed instruments were installed aboard a Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 to collect trace elements from the atmosphere in the course of the aircraft’s regular flight operations.

The Lufthansa Group purchases four additional ultra-modern Airbus A350-900 long-haul aircraft. The aircraft will be acquired from Deucalion Aviation Limited and delivered to the Group still this year.

Lufthansa currently operates 21 Airbus A350-900s and has ordered five more A350-900s and ten A350-1000s as recently as March 2023. In total, Lufthansa holds 38 firm orders for this highly efficient Airbus long-haul aircraft, making it the world's third-largest Airbus A350 customer.

STARLUX Airlines launches first transpacific flight to Los Angeles

STARLUX Airlines, a Taiwan-based luxury carrier has confirmed it will launch its first transpacific service between Taipei and Los Angeles on 26th April this year. Initially starting with five weekly flights, the service is expected to ramp to daily in June. STARLUX also announced the establishment of its first US office based in Los Angeles and its new designation as the “Official International Airline Partner of the LA Clippers” as part of a multi-year partnership with the NBA team.

“As a brand-new airline to the US market, STARLUX is excited to help create memorable journeys by providing unique and exquisite service to customers traveling to and from Los Angeles to Taipei, and other Asian cities,” said STARLUX CEO Glenn Chai. “With Los Angeles being the sister city of Taipei, along with our partnership with the LA Clippers, the city of angels is our airline’s perfect starting US destination.”

Luxury Service and a Taste of Taiwan

While the last few years have seen a plethora of budget airlines come onto the scene, STARLUX is bucking the trend — a luxury airline expanding in a world of no-frills carriers. With a philosophy that luxury should not be the exclusive experience of the elite but readily available to everyone, the company is experiencing impressive growth.

With eyes to the skies and “luxury” embedded in its brand, STARLUX strives to achieve the highest standards in operations, service, safety, and management. The airline operates the TPE-LAX route with its new-generation Airbus A350 configured in a premium four-class layout, with four seats in First, 26 in Business, 36 in Premium Economy, and 240 in Economy. Travelers in First and Business will have a cozy private space with a sliding door and seats with full-flat and Zero G mode for full relaxation. The extra-legroom Premium Economy section features a 40-inch Recaro seat with a leg rest and footrest bar. Economy Class seats are also built for utmost comfort, equipped with leather headrest and wide seat pitch. In addition, the A350 offers nose-to-tail seatback entertainment featuring 4K personal large screens.

Three new Airbus A350-900 aircraft for Air France

Air Lease Corporation, one of the leading aircraft leasing and management companies had agreed the long-term lease placements for three new Airbus A350-900 widebody aircraft with Air France.  According to ALC these aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to Air France in the second quarter of 2024 and come from ALC’s existing order book with Airbus. 

“This strategic lease placement of three new A350-900s is another important step in the long-haul fleet modernization of Air France,” said Steven Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation.  “The Air France-KLM Group is our largest European airline leasing customer, encompassing not only Air France and KLM, but also includes Transavia Netherlands and Transavia France.  ALC also has nine new Airbus A321neo aircraft delivering to the Group between late 2023 and 2026, and five Boeing 737s delivering to Transavia during the first half of this year, all on long-term leases.”

Qantas unveils prototypes of the First and Business cabins on the Airbus A350 that will fly passengers non-stop from Australia to New York and London from late 2025.

Luxe First suites with fixed flat bed, separate lounge recliner and wardrobe.

Next Generation Business suites with sliding door for added privacy.

Fast and free Wi-Fi to be installed across A350 fleet.

Qantas has unveiled prototypes of the First and Business cabins on the aircraft that will fly passengers non-stop from Australia to New York and London from late 2025.

A virtual reality fly through of the aircraft cabin has also been revealed.

Designed with ultra-long haul travel in mind, the flagship cabins are the first to be developed from the ground up by a mix of aviation specialists, as well as Australian industrial design studio Caon Design, and a multidisciplinary team of scientists from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre including sleep scientists.

Key to the cabin design has been giving passengers more space, made possible by Qantas’ decision to configure its 12 Airbus A350s to seat 238 passengers compared to the 300-plus seat layout specified by other carriers.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the investment in new A350 aircraft and approach to cabin design continues Qantas’ 100-year history of aviation ‘firsts’.

“Qantas has been the leader in opening up new long-haul flights for most of our history, and we’re bringing everything we’ve learned, both technically and in terms of passenger comfort, to Project Sunrise flying,” said Mr Joyce.

“We think our A350 cabins have the most sophisticated and thoughtful design of any airline, combining cutting edge technology with sleep research to shape the look and feel for what is effectively a new era of travel.

“We’re building on the customer experience of our extremely popular non-stop flights from Perth to London as we keep working to make it easier to connect Australia with the rest of the world.”

The spacious First suite has a range of features to make customers feel like they are in a mini boutique hotel room complete with an extra-wide fixed bed, separate recliner chair, personal wardrobe, dining table for two and a 32” ultra-high definition TV.

Every Business suite will have direct aisle access for ease of moving around the cabin, and Qantas is incorporating sliding doors into the suite for privacy, if desired.

Other Business features include a two metre flat bed, generous storage (including a large mirror), cushioned leather ottoman, 18” ultra-high definition touch screen TV, large dining table and feature lighting.

First and Business will also offer multiple personal device charging options including wireless induction charging.

Finnair modifies Airbus A350s to increase passenger and cargo loads on longer routes

Finnair has modified ten of its flagship A350s to carry more customers and cargo as it continues to increase capacity across its Asian routes. Finnair has worked with aircraft manufacturer Airbus to increase the maximum take-off weight for a specially selected number of its aircraft as demand for flights to and from Asia has risen.

Finnair says the modifications made involve changes and updates to the aircraft’s software system, placards and manuals in cooperation with the planes maker Airbus. The aircraft software compensates for the centre of gravity change and maintains the same handling characteristics which allows for an increase in maximum take-off weight by around eight tonnes and that then enables Finnair to carry more customers and cargo on long-haul routes to Asia. 

With these modifications each aircraft can carry more customers and cargo, but also more importantly extra fuel to fly the longer flight times between Finland and South Korea and Japan that have resulted in the closure of Russian airspace to Finnair and other European and US carriers since the start of the war in Ukraine. Finnair hopes these changes will help it restore profitability to the routes and the airline as a whole.

Leena Niemi, Finnair Compliance Manager for Technical Operation, said: “Usually we do everything we can to make our aircraft lighter, but for our flights to Tokyo and Seoul we’ve increased their maximum take-off weight to fly around Russia and meet the demand for increased customers, cargo and kerosene. While making the modifications, the safety and security of our aircraft and customers remained our number one priority.”

“In addition, the weight and balance data for the modified aircraft have been updated, the noise certificates of the aircraft have been renewed, and the aircraft maintenance program and life limits of the main landing gear parts have been updated.”

Emirates invests in high-speed inflight broadband onboard 50 new A350 aircraft

Emirates will offer passengers yet another opportunity to ‘fly better’, with new high-speed, inflight broadband powered by Inmarsat’s GX Aviation, onboard 50 new Airbus A350 aircraft - scheduled to enter service in 2024. The new agreement will significantly improve the passenger experience with enhanced connectivity and greater global coverage, even on flights over the Arctic.

The Airbus A350s will be the first Emirates aircraft to take advantage of Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (GX) satellite network, which powers the world’s first and only globally available broadband network, ensuring passengers can enjoy uninterrupted global connectivity, no matter their destination, including the North Pole. The advanced high-speed capabilities of the broadband will enable Emirates passengers to stay connected with family and friends, browse the internet, and enjoy social media, all from the comfort of their seat.  

The GX network that will power the Emirates inflight broadband currently consists of five Ka-band satellites and will be further enhanced with the addition of seven more satellite payloads as part of Inmarsat's fully funded technology roadmap. This includes two Inmarsat-6s, the most sophisticated commercial communications satellites ever built, both of which are scheduled to enter service in 2023. These will be followed by three additional satellites in geostationary orbit – adding speed, capacity, and resilience – and two in highly elliptical orbit, to enable the world’s only commercial mobile broadband service for aircraft flying in higher elevations and across the Arctic, such as routes between the Middle East and North America.

Air France takes delivery of ‘Angers’, its twentieth A350-900

Air France continues to integrate latest-generation aircraft, with an improved economic and environmental performance, into its fleet.

On 25 November 2022, the airline welcomed its twentieth Airbus A350-900 into its fleet, registration F-HTYT. The aircraft has rolled off the Airbus assembly line in Toulouse and has completed its ferry flight to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, where it will operate on the airline’s long-haul routes.

It will make its first commercial flight on 26 November 2022, flying to Lima (flight AF480).

The front of the fuselage bears the name “Angers”, a tribute to this city in the West of France once home to the kings of France.

Since 2019 and the delivery of its first Airbus A350, Air France has revived the tradition of naming its aircraft after French towns. Before « Angers », Air France named its previous 19 Airbus A350 « Toulouse », « Lyon », « Saint-Denis de la Réunion », « Nice », « Bordeaux », « Marseille », « Reims », « Dijon », « Saint-Malo », « Cannes », « Aubusson », « Pointe-à-Pitre », « Fort-de-France », « Chambord », « Cayenne », « Lille », « Menton », « Deauville » and « Biscarosse ».

In total, the airline has ordered 38 Airbus A350-900s, with deliveries continuing at a steady pace through 2025.

By 2030, latest generation aircraft (Airbus A350s, Boeing 787s, Airbus A220s) will make up 70% of the Air France fleet - compared to 7% today – thanks to an ambitious investment plan of one billion euros per year.

The latest generation of environmentally friendly aircraft

The Airbus A350-900 symbolizes the transition to more sustainable air transport. It consumes 25% less fuel (2.5 litres per passenger per 100 kilometres) than an equivalent-sized, older airliner, thanks to the use of lighter materials: 53% composites and 14% titanium. Its noise footprint is also reduced by 40%.

The best of Air France onboard the Airbus A350

The Airbus A350 has 324 seats, with 34 in the Business cabin, 24 in the Premium Economy cabin and 266 in the Economy cabin.

On board, customers enjoy

a spacious cabin in Business, Premium Economy and Economy,

30% larger windows,

an optimized air pressure system, providing a more comfortable cabin atmosphere with regularly renewed air,

lighting adapted to the different phases of the flight.

To stay connected on board the Airbus A350, customers can access Air France CONNECT, the in-flight Wi-Fi service.

20 destinations to discover onboard the Airbus A350 this winter

This winter, the Air France Airbus A350 will serve 20 destinations on four continents on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle: Atlanta, Chicago, Miami and Seattle (United States), Montreal (Canada), Mexico City (Mexico), San José (Costa Rica), Lima (Peru), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Santiago de Chile (Chile), Conakry (Guinea), Bamako (Mali), Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo), Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Cairo (Egypt), Tel Aviv (Israel), Beirut (Lebanon), Delhi and Bangalore (India).

IAG Cargo restarts services to Caracas and Rio de Janeiro from Madrid

 IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), has announced the revival of two services from its hub at Madrid Barajas Airport to Caracas (Venezuela) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). These routes join IAG Cargo’s increased capacity to Latin American destinations this winter, including Chile, Mexico and Ecuador.

 

The flights to Caracas and Rio de Janeiro will operate three times a week, commencing in November; the services to Caracas will utilise the bellyhold of an Iberia A350 aircraft and an A330-200 to Rio de Janeiro. IAG Cargo’s sister airline Iberia recently announced a return to pre-pandemic levels and has re-established its entire network of flights and destinations in Latin America, adding the two remaining destinations (Caracas and Rio de Janeiro).

IAG Cargo announces the restart of services from its Madrid hub to Caracas and Rio de Janeiro.

These routes join IAG Cargo’s increased capacity to Latin American destinations this winter, including Chile, Mexico and Ecuador.

The addition of these services will offer customers more uplift between Latin America and Europe

 

These routes facilitate the movement of perishables and popular foods grown locally including flowers, papayas, mangos, and figs. Every year IAG Cargo transports large volumes of perishables out of Central and South America to European markets, via its Constant Fresh service, designed to optimise shelf life using aircraft hold temperature settings monitored closely throughout the flight.

 

Rodrigo Casal, Regional Commercial Manager for Latin America at IAG Cargo said: “I’m delighted to offer our customers additional capacity between Latin America, Europe and UK. The revival of these services will have a great impact on the economy and livelihoods in both Caracas and Rio de Janeiro, as exporting food and perishables plays a huge part in their economies. When it comes to transporting perishables - air cargo plays a vital role, ensuring products arrive on supermarket shelves in the same condition as harvest.”

IAG Cargo’s hub at Madrid airport handles over 200,000 tonnes of cargo every year with frequent services to cities in Europe such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Stockholm. The Madrid hub is also an important gateway for Spanish textile manufacturers transporting the latest fashions into the Americas.

Finnair to start weekly service from Helsinki to Guangzhou, China

Finnair ready to start weekly service from Helsinki to Guangzhou, China

Finnair will operate a weekly service between its Helsinki hub (HEL) and Guangzhou (CAN) in China, starting 6 September. The flight will be operated with an Airbus A350 aircraft, with departures from Helsinki on Tuesdays and departures from Guangzhou on Thursdays. Flights are available through Finnair's direct sales channels and travel agents as of today.   

The Guangzhou flight offers connectivity to a range of Finnair’s European destinations with transfer testing, as required by the Chinese authorities, available at Helsinki Airport for the flight to Guangzhou. Further instructions available at finnair.com.

“We are excited to return to Guangzhou and look forward to gradually increasing our offering for the Chinese market,” says Ole Orvér, Chief Commercial Officer, Finnair.  

Finnair also flies to Shanghai once a week. Finnair has a network of some 70 European destinations for the winter season 2022. Helsinki Airport has been recently renovated to offer more space and even better and more convenient transfer experience.  

Find great hotels in China

Find great hotels in China

Its not often you see a whale at Luton Airport.....

It's not something you see every day,  but during the week London Luton Airport was visited by a massive Airbus Beluga XL on a training sortie.

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Beluga and Beluga XL's can shift so much odd-sized cargo....

The Bulga XL transports A350 wings

Arriving in Bremen 

'Sustainable 50’ Etihad Airways Airbus A350 makes inaugural flight to New York.....

Etihad Airways celebrated the arrival of its new Airbus A350-1000 in the United States following the inaugural commercial flight from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on 30 June. The aircraft, which accommodates 371 passengers, is one of five new Airbus A350s to join Etihad’s fleet this year.

All Etihad flights servicing New York and Chicago O’Hare International Airport will be operated by the A350, joining Mumbai and Delhi routes that began flying in April this year.

Etihad passengers travelling to the US have access to Etihad’s US pre-clearance, the only United States Customs and Border Protection facility in the Middle East. This allows passengers bound for the United States to process all immigration, customs and agriculture inspections in Abu Dhabi before they board their flight, avoiding immigration and queues on arrival in the US.

“We are proud to bring the Airbus A350 into service in the US. This is an incredible aircraft with highly efficient fuel consumption and CO2 savings, which enables us to support our goals to reduce carbon emissions and deliver an unmatched flight experience for our guests,” said Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Global Sales and Cargo, Etihad Airways. “By introducing the A350, we have almost doubled premium capacity on our New York and Chicago routes to 44 seats in the Business cabin, which provides a luxurious experience comparable to First Class on other international airlines.”  

Sustainable50

Formed as a partnership between Etihad, Airbus and Rolls Royce in 2021, the Sustainable50 programme will make use of Etihad's A350s as flying testbeds for new initiatives, procedures and technologies to reduce carbon emissions. This will build on the learnings derived from Etihad's similar Greenliner programme for the Boeing 787 aircraft type.

The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered Airbus A350 is one of the most efficient aircraft types in the world, with 25% less fuel burn and CO2 emissions than previous-generation twin aisle aircraft.

Etihad recently established a formal framework with Airbus to collaborate on sustainability across a number of areas, including the promotion and commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuel, waste and weight management, and the development of data-driven analysis.