Aviation

Airbus CEO Expresses Concern Over Boeing’s Ongoing Technical Issues

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In a notable statement made at the “Europe 2024” conference held in Berlin, Guillaume Faury, the CEO of Airbus, conveyed his deep apprehension regarding the persistent technical challenges faced by its American competitor, Boeing.

Speaking on behalf of the massive European aviation giant Airbus, Faury stressed that Airbus is not satisfied by the technical issues that are ailing Boeing. Instead, he focused on how these problems negatively affect the integrity and broader reputation of the aerospace sector. Faury said directly, “I am not happy with the problems of my competitor,” in response to a question regarding the technical issues affecting boeing supplier. They are not good for the industry as a whole.” As reported by Reuters.

A number of technical difficulties have been plaguing Boeing recently; the most notable of these was a door plug explosion that happened in January on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9. A growing number of industry stakeholders and the aviation industry are becoming concerned about this occurrence, which has added to Boeing’s already long list of difficulties.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire echoed Faury’s sentiments, further emphasizing the contrasting situations between Airbus and Boeing. Le Maire’s preference for Airbus’ situation over that of aviall boeing underscores a perception that Airbus is comparatively better positioned, both in terms of operational stability and technical reliability.

The remarks made by Faury and Le Maire highlight the interconnectedness of the aerospace industry and the significance of maintaining high standards of safety and performance across all major players. Despite being competitors in the market, airbus aerospace and Boeing share a mutual interest in upholding the industry’s reputation and ensuring the safety and satisfaction of customers worldwide.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.