Qatar Airways has received the first of its 80 A350 XWB aircraft, of which the airline is the global launch customer, a press release said Monday. The announcement made by Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker during a press conference held at the Airbus Delivery Centre in Toulouse on Monday.
In attendance at the press conference and delivery ceremony in Toulouse were Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Bregier, Rolls Royce Aerospace President Tony Wood, and HE Qatar’s Ambassador to France Sheikh Mishaal bin Hamad Al-Thani, witnessing the arrival of the airline’s first A350 XWB aircraft.
Speaking at the press conference, Al Baker explained about Qatar Airways’ rapid expansion plans, boosted by the arrival of this latest aircraft type. “Today marks a momentous occasion in the history of our airline. Not only are we welcoming a new aircraft type into the Qatar Airways fleet, but as global launch customer for the A350 XWB, we are receiving the newest and most modern aircraft that the world will see for at least another decade,” Al Baker said.
“With our significant order as launch customer for 80 of this aircraft type, it has enabled Airbus to create an aircraft that not only considers every aspect of passenger comfort, but also features the cutting-edge light-weight carbon composite design, which in turn allows fuel consumption and noise to be reduced, along with many other leading features.
“I am confident that with our passenger insight, the aircraft that has today been welcomed into our fleet will be the footprint for all future aircraft design, both with regard to technological advancements and the passenger journey itself,” he added.
For his part, Bregier said that delivering the first A350 XWB is a “significant step in Airbus and aviation history” as the aircraft 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, revolutionizing our industry and redefining the way people fly,” Bregier said, adding: “It’s with tremendous pride that we are delivering our first A350 XWB today to our launch customer, Qatar Airways. It’s a perfect match to be handing over the first of an all-new world-class aircraft to a leading world-class airline.” As global launch customer for the A350 XWB, Qatar Airways will be the only airline to fly this aircraft type for the foreseeable future and was a significant contributor to its cutting-edge design in partnership with aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, according to the press release.
The first commercial service on the new aircraft will be deployed on the Doha-Frankfurt route in January. The delivery of the A350 XWB is the second significant fleet milestone for the Qatari carrier in recent past, having taken delivery of its first A380 aircraft in September.
The A350 XWB will comprise a two-class configuration with 36 business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. Economy class will comprise 247 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration.
Over 70 percent of the plane’s weight-efficient airframe is made from advanced materials combining composites (53 percent), titanium and advanced aluminum alloys. The aircraft’s innovative all-new carbon fiber reinforced plastic fuselage results in lower fuel burn as well as easier maintenance.
Qatar Airways has a robust range of Airbus aircraft in its fleet. In addition to the 80 A350s it has on order, the airline has a current Airbus fleet comprising of the A320, A330 Freighter, A319LR, A321, A330, A340 and A380 families.
Source : Qatar News Agency
