The Airbus logo is pictured at Airbus headquarters in Blagnac near Toulouse, France.
BEIJING (Reuters) – Air China, China’s flagship carrier, will buy 20 A350-900 jets from Airbus SE worth $6.54 billion based on list prices, the carrier said on Thursday.
Air China, which has 10 of the fuel-efficient widebody aircraft in its fleet already, said the deliveries were scheduled from 2020 to 2022.
It was not immediately clear if the order would bolster the Airbus order book or if it had previously been attributed to an unidentified customer. Airbus did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
A fresh order would help Airbus narrow a deficit in widebody orders against Boeing as trade tensions persist between the United States and China.
Boeing won a positive total of 61 widebody orders in the first half this year against Airbus’ negative tally of 35 jets, meaning the European company had more cancellations than orders for twin aisle aircraft in the period.
Air China said it has the right to swap 5 out of 20 jets for the larger A350-1000.
(Reporting by Stella Qiu and Se Young Lee and Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
PARIS, June 28 (Reuters) – Air France-KLM said its separate Air France and KLM airline units would be swapping over some remaining orders from Boeing and Airbus, in a move which Air France KLM said would help its fleet run more efficiently.
The swap means that in the 2021-2023 timeframe, the six remaining Boeing 787 ordered for Air France will be transferred to KLM, and the current 7 Airbus A350-900s on order for KLM will be transferred to Air France.
“This is the first step towards harmonizing and simplifying the Air France-KLM Group fleet at its two major airlines,” said Air France KLM CEO Benjamin Smith.
(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; editing by Michel Rose)
Upgraded Boeing 767-400s will have new Delta One business class seat.
Delta Premium Select also expands to more markets.
Delta Air Lines will offer improved cabin experiences for customers starting this fall through the launch of its new business class seat offering more comfort and privacy, plus the expansion of its international premium economy cabin, Delta Premium Select to new markets in Europe and South America.
The new cabins will be fitted on the 767-400 fleet and bring all four branded seat products – Delta One, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin – to this aircraft for the first time. The aircraft have initially been scheduled on select flights between Atlanta and London Heathrow starting November 12, 2019, followed by a number of additional European and South American markets. Select flights to London, Zurich and Brussels on this aircraft will be available for purchase starting this weekend with additional markets for sale in the coming weeks.
Here is a full overview of the markets the new 767-400 aircraft will fly:
Route (airport code)
Effective Dates
Atlanta (ATL) – London Heathrow (LHR)
Nov. 12
New York-JFK (JFK) – London Heathrow (LHR)
Nov. 16
Boston (BOS) – London Heathrow (LHR)
Nov. 20
New York-JFK (JFK) – Zurich (ZRH)
Dec. 8
New York-JFK (JFK) – Brussels (BRU)
Jan. 30
Atlanta (ATL) – Brussels (BRU)
Feb. 22
New York-JFK (JFK) – São Paulo (GRU)
2Q 2020
Detroit (DTW) – London Heathrow (LHR)
2Q 2020
Minneapolis (MSP) – London Heathrow (LHR)
2Q 2020
Portland (PDX) – London Heathrow (LHR)
2Q 2020
Atlanta (ATL) – Munich (MUC)
2Q 2020
New York-JFK (JFK) – Nice
2Q 2020
Atlanta (ATL) – Zurich (ZRH)
2Q 2020
Atlanta (ATL) – Buenos Aires (EZE)
2Q 2020
”Our investments in our Boeing 767-400 fleet reflect our continuous effort to elevate each aspect of the international customer experience,” said Steve Sear, Delta’s President — International and E.V.P. — Global Sales. “We understand that our customers want to curate their own travel experience and offering four cabins allows for more choice while continuing to align our products across the Delta fleet.”
Delta is investing millions of dollars in its widebody long-haul fleet to give customers greater choice when they travel. The 767-400 refit follows the introduction of the Delta One suite and Delta Premium Select on its Airbus A330-900neo, Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 777-200 aircraft.
Here are some more details on Delta’s new cabins:
Delta One
The cabin will feature a new seat customized for this aircraft, which offers extra privacy through high sides and a divider between the two middle seats in the 1-2-1 configuration. There will be 34 seats in total.
The memory foam-cushion seats will also feature personal stowage areas, customizable ambient lighting and 18″ wide, high-resolution in-flight entertainment screens.
New self-service area for customers to enjoy snacks and beverages at their leisure throughout the flight.
Delta Premium Select
Delta’s premium economy cabin, Delta Premium Select, will have 20 seats in a 2x2x2 configuration.
It is a separate cabin between Delta One and Main Cabin, offering customers dedicated service, plated meals on Alessi serviceware, TUMI branded amenity kits, and LSTN noise-canceling headsets.
Seats, with memory foam cushions, will be 19″ wide with up to 38″ pitch and 7″ recline. The seats will also feature an adjustable leg rest and footrest, along with a larger IFE 13.3″ screen than found in Comfort+ and Main Cabin.
Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin
New, wider seats with memory foam cushions and adjustable headrests for improved comfort on long-haul flights.
10.1” seatback screens to enjoy the 1,000+ hours of entertainment available on-demand via Delta Studio.
Furthermore, the aircraft will also be fitted with Delta’s own in-flight entertainment system created by Delta Flight Products. The first-of-its-kind system combines wireless technology with state-of-the-art tablet displays mounted into the back of the seat. The system debuted on Delta’s A220 fleet and is also rolling out on the new A330-900neo fleet before coming to the 767-400 aircraft as part of the interior refit.
In addition to the expected customer experience and cost benefits, wireless IFE also helps reduce the airline’s environmental impact. The wireless streaming technology enables the reduction of about one pound of wiring per seat when installed on an aircraft. This means Delta’s modified 767-400 fleet will save about 1,330 metric tons of carbon emissions annually.
Visit the Delta link below for a video presentation of the new cabin layouts!
Japan Airlines (JAL) has taken delivery of its first A350 XWB at Airbus Headquarters in Toulouse, France. The A350-900 is the first aircraft produced by Airbus for JAL. The milestone event was attended by JAL Representative Director and Chairman Yoshiharu Ueki and Airbus Chief Commercial Officer Christian Scherer.
Altogether, JAL has ordered 31 A350 XWB aircraft, comprising 18 A350-900’s and 13 A350-1000’s. JAL will initially operate the A350-900 on high frequency domestic routes, while the larger A350-1000 will fly on the carrier’s long haul international network. The first aircraft will enter service on the airline’s Haneda – Fukuoka route at the start of September.
JAL’s A350-900 is configured in a premium three class layout, with 12 seats in First Class, 94 in Class J and 263 in Comfort Economy.
The ferry flight of the first JAL A350-900 is being performed with a blend of conventional and synthetic fuel, contributing to reduced CO2 emissions.
The A350 XWB offers by design unrivalled operational flexibility and efficiency for all market segments up to ultra-long haul (15,000km). It features the latest aerodynamic design, a carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Together, these latest technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency, with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions. The A350 XWB’s Airspace by Airbus cabin is the quietest of any twin-aisle and offers passengers and crews the most modern in-flight products for the most comfortable flying experience.
At the end of May 2019, the A350 XWB Family had received 893 firm orders from 51 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful wide-body aircraft ever.
For more information about the A350 family, please click here.
Today Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL; “ALC”) announced the delivery of one new Airbus A350-900 aircraft on long-term lease to Sichuan Airlines. Featuring Trent XWB-84 engines, this A350-900 is the first ALC A350-900 to deliver to an airline in China. The aircraft is from ALC’s order book with Airbus and joins eight Airbus aircraft currently on lease from ALC to Sichuan Airlines for a total of nine aircraft.
“Sichuan Airlines is a loyal long-term customer of ALC and we are pleased to be leasing our new A350-900 to the airline,” said Steven F. Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation. “This significant delivery further strengthens our close relationship and we are confident this new widebody aircraft will complement the airline’s current fleet operations, adding technological and innovative advancements that will bring a whole new experience to Sichuan’s offerings.”
“We are very pleased to announce this new A350-900 delivery to our distinguished customer, Sichuan Airlines,” said Jie Chen, Air Lease Corporation’s Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Asia. “ALC is proud to introduce the airline to the A350-900 and pioneer modernizing the airline’s long-haul fleet to maximize Sichuan Airlines’ fleet operations and global growth.”
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected delivery dates. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Dassault Aviation group is delighted to be presenting its dual civil and defense know-how at the 2019 edition of EBACE, Europe’s primary business aviation event, to be held in Geneva from 21 to 23 May.
Saint-Cloud, France, 17 May 2019 – The Dassault
Aviation group is delighted to be presenting its dual civil and defense
know-how at the 2019 edition of EBACE, Europe’s primary business
aviation event, to be held in Geneva from 21 to 23 May.
Three Dassault aircraft will be presented in the static display:
On its stand, Dassault Aviation will also be presenting:
a full-scale mock-up of the cabin of the Falcon 6X, the new Falcon
twin-jet currently under development. Visitors will be able to enter
this mock-up, which is fully representative of the features and comfort
of the actual cabin;
a mock-up of the Rafale, the multi-role combat aircraft, which has
proven itself in numerous theatres of operations. The Rafale is a
candidate for the Swiss Air Force’s combat fleet renewal program;
a mock-up of the nEUROn stealth combat UAV demonstrator built under
the project leadership of Dassault Aviation, in cooperation with
companies from five European countries, including Ruag of Switzerland;
a representation of the new capabilities of Dassault Aviation’s
Falcon maintenance networks, notably following the acquisition of MRO
activities of TAG Aviation in Europe and ExecuJet in Asia, Australia,
New Zealand, Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
As well as being the lynchpin of a strategic industrial network
comprising hundreds of companies in France and around the world,
Dassault Aviation is also the core industrial shareholder of the Thales
Group and the leader of the new-generation European combat aircraft
program.
The first A330neo of the Americas has been delivered to Azul Linhas Aéreas on lease from Avolon, becoming the first airline from the Americas to fly the A330-900. The aircraft is the first of 15 A330neo ordered by Avolon.
The A330neo, Airbus’ new generation A330 aircraft, will be used by the airline to expand its international route network between Brazil and Europe and the United States. Fitted with a three-class cabin layout accommodating 34 business class, 96 economy Xtra, and 168 economy class seats, the A330neo offers passengers greater comfort along with the newest and the most advanced in-flight experience while the airline will benefit from the aircraft’s unrivalled operating economics.
“We are very proud to be the first A330neo operator in the Americas. This new aircraft will play a key role in the expansion of our international markets supporting our strategy of having a modern and fuel-efficient fleet”, celebrates John Rodgerson, Azul’s CEO.
“With its many new features and an Airspace cabin, the A330neo can only add to Azul’s many travel awards said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer. “Innovation packed, superior passenger comfort and 25% fuel efficiency all rolled in to one – that’s the A330neo.”
The A330neo is the true new-generation aircraft building on the most popular wide body A330’s features and leveraging on A350 XWB technology. Powered by the latest Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the A330neo provides an unprecedented level of efficiency – with 25% lower fuel burn per seat than previous generation competitors. Equipped with the Airbus Airspace cabin, the A330neo offers a unique passenger experience with more personal space and the latest generation in-flight entertainment system and connectivity.
Founded in 2008, Azul is a Brazilian carrier that serves 108 destinations across South America, the United States and Portugal.
Airbus has sold 1,200 aircraft, has a backlog of nearly 600 and nearly 700 in operation throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, representing a 56 percent market share of the in-service fleet. Since 1994, Airbus has secured nearly 70 percent of net orders in the region.
The Commonwealth of Australia has taken delivery of the first of three very long range Falcon 7X trijets it has acquired for government VIP service.
The other two aircraft, to be operated by the Royal Australian Air Force, will be handed over in the following months.
The VIP units are being delivered with the latest connectivity solutions, intended to provide seamless access to high speed broadband data anywhere in the world.
The Falcon 7X offers a combination of range, and operational flexibility that no other large cabin business jet can match. The 5,950 nm 7X can fly from Canberra to any point in Asia nonstop or link Canberra to Washington or London in one hop. It can land on short and challenging runways and operate across a wide range of environmental conditions, including extremely hot and humid and dry desert climates. And the aircraft’s three-engine design provides additional safety margin and frees operators of twin engine operating constraints when flying intercontinental transoceanic routes.
These characteristics explain the immense popularity the 7X has enjoyed since its service introduction more than a decade ago. More than 280 of the big trijets have been delivered to date around the world.
“We are extremely honoured that Australia has once again chosen to renew its confidence in our Falcon product line,” said Eric Trappier, Chairman & CEO of Dassault Aviation. “The RAAF already has decades of successful experience operating Dassault aircraft, from the Mirage III fighter to the Falcon 20 and Falcon 900 business jets.”
Australia has been a key market for the Falcon for almost half century. The company’s first business jet, the Falcon 20, entered commercial service ‘Down Under’ in 1967, two years after its entry into service. The Falcon 20 entered the inventory of the RAAF the same year (under the name Mystère 20) and served in the RAAF’s transport and utility wing for 22 years before being replaced by the Falcon 900. The five-aircraft Falcon 900 fleet remained in operation through the early 2000s.
More than 120 Falcon aircraft, including over 50 Falcon 7Xs, are currently flying with public and private operators in Australia and other Asia Pacific countries.
Fiji Airways has adopted the A350 XWB as part of its expansion plans to broaden its international network. Two A350-900s will be leased from Dubai-based DAE Capital, making Fiji Airways the newest operator and DAE Capital the latest customer.
With its common type rating with the A330 Family, the A350 XWB was the natural aircraft choice to seamlessly join the airline’s existing fleet of four A330s. The common rating between the A350 XWB and A330 means that pilots who are qualified and current on the A330 can already commence preparations to take the A350 XWB’s controls by undergoing “differences training” only, meaning a significant cost savings and operational flexibility.
The aircraft will be configured with 33 full lie-flat Business Class and 301 Economy Class seats. The aircraft will be deployed to enhance existing long-haul services between Fiji, Australia and the U.S., and to provide the opportunity to open additional routes.
The A350 XWB is the world’s most modern and eco-efficient aircraft family shaping the future of air travel. It is the long-range leader in the large widebody market (300 to 400+ seats). The A350 XWB offers by design unrivalled operational flexibility and efficiency for all market segments up to ultra-long haul (9,700 nm). It features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Together, these latest technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency, with a 25% reduction in fuel burn and emissions. The A350 XWB’s Airspace by Airbus cabin is the quietest of any twin-aisle and offers passengers and crews the most modern in-flight products for the most comfortable flying experience. At the end of March 2019, the A350 XWB Family had received 890 firm orders from 50 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever.
The first A350 XWB for Japan Airlines (JAL) has rolled out of the Airbus paint shop in Toulouse, France. The A350-900 is the first ever Airbus aircraft to be produced directly for JAL and features a special A350 XWB red logo on the fuselage.
The aircraft will now proceed to ground and flight tests, before delivery to JAL in early summer.
In total JAL has ordered 31 A350 XWB aircraft, comprising 18 A350-900s and 13 A350-1000s. The A350-900 will initially be operated on major domestic routes, with a three-class configuration seating 369 passengers.
The A350 XWB is the world’s most modern and eco-efficient aircraft family shaping the future of air travel. It is the long-range leader in the large widebody market (300 to 400+ seats). The A350 XWB offers by design unrivalled operational flexibility and efficiency for all market segments up to ultra-long haul (15,000 km).
The A350 XWB features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Together, these latest technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency, with a 25% reduction in fuel burn and emissions. The A350 XWB’s Airspace by Airbus cabin is the quietest of any twin-aisle and offers passengers and crews the most modern in-flight products for the most comfortable flying experience.
At the end of March 2019, the A350 XWB Family had received 890 firm
orders from 50 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful
widebody aircraft ever.
