Toulouse (AFP) – “More than a fabulous day is a historic day for Airbus.” It is with these words that the CEO of the European aircraft manufacturer stressed the importance of delivery Monday its latest A350-900, intended to compete with the Boeing 787 and 777.
Qatar Airways took delivery Monday in Toulouse, at the headquarters of Airbus, the first copy of the new generation of long-haul jet made mostly of composite materials. This is the all-new 787 Dreamliner aircraft from the American Boeing in late 2011 and the super jumbo Airbus A380 in October 2007.
“Today marks the end of the project a decade “said Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways at a press conference, noting that no new aircraft would emerge in the next decade.
The Qatari carrier property the wealthy oil emirate, has ordered 80 aircraft in total, showing its ambitions to become a must in the world.
Established 17 years ago, the Doha carrier already has a fleet of 145 aircraft operating to 146 destinations. And he recently received three of the 14 Super Jumbo A380 also controlled.
Mr. Al Baker has even said that three new planes had joined the fleet “in the space of 24 months: the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the A380 and now the A350″
A350. -900, configured in two classes, will be operated from 15 January on the line daily Doha-Frankfurt. The second A350-900 is expected to enter the fleet in February
-. ‘Quieter, more efficient’ –
The commissioning of this new aircraft is crucial for Airbus intends strengthen its presence in the lucrative market for medium capacity long-range (250 to 400 seats). The manufacturer estimates that in the next 20 years, the demand for this type of equipment will amount to 7,800 copies.
The plane, where the air is renewed every two to three minutes, is quieter, more spacious with enlarged windows but also lighter and therefore consumes less kerosene than its competitors. The first copy comes with “a high level of maturity” to a company that wants high-end, also stressed Fabrice Brégier.
“My dear Akbar, you are a customer demand, especially demand and sometimes a bit too but you are also one of the architects of the A350. We owe a lot to this program, “he commented, saying that without this contribution, the aircraft would be” not the best in its class. “
Proof of confidence in his aircraft, Airbus has even organized a flight for nearly an hour over the Pyrenees for journalists.
The delivery A350 was originally scheduled for December 13 before being suspended indefinitely. Akbar al Baker simply explained that the delay was due to finish in the organization and the equipment cabin performed by a subcontractor.
In the long-haul market, B777 and 787 his rival until the majority are facing the A330 jet entered service there twenty years remotorisée whose version was launched in July.
The European aircraft manufacturer has invested 10 to 12 billion of euros in the A350XWB (extra wide body). Trent XWB engines equipped with Rolls-Royce, the A350-900 is able to carry 315 passengers on average over a distance of 14,500 km.
The A350 program was launched in 2007 after a first version retoquée in 2005 by the companies who saw a pale improving the A330.
Airbus has also kept its promise to deliver to the first copy Qatar Airways’ before the end of the year “but with about a year behind the original schedule.
The first test flight of the A350-900 was held June 14, 2013 before certification in the fall.
With 778 orders at the end of November, the program is already a commercial success. Boeing himself has already accumulated 1,055 orders for its Dreamliner launched a few years ahead.
Fabrice Brégier finally assured that the increased production rate was well prepared. Airbus plans to move from a production of two to 10 aircraft per month in four years.
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