Aviation
Hong Kong Airlines becomes new operator of the A350 XWB
Toulouse, 1st September 2017 – Hong Kong Airlines has taken delivery of its first A350-900, on lease from AerCap, making the carrier the 15th airline to operate the world’s newest and most efficient twin aisle airliner. Altogether Hong Kong Airlines will acquire 21 Airbus A350 XWB, including 15 purchased directly from Airbus and six on lease from third party lessors.
The A350 XWB will bring unrivalled eco-efficiency and a superior passenger experience to the carrier’s network. Hong Kong Airlines has configured its A350-900 with a premium three-class layout with a total of 334 seats, comprising 33 in Business Class, convertible to fully lie-flat beds, 108 in the new cabin class “Economy Comfort” and 193 in Economy Class. The aircraft features the airline’s latest cabin products, including an all-new entertainment system and full in-flight connectivity. After an initial period flying on regional routes, Hong Kong Airlines’ A350-900 will begin long haul operations in December this year, flying on the carrier’s non-stop service to Los Angeles.
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 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions, and significantly lower maintenance costs. As the founding member of “Airspace by Airbus” cabin brand, the A350 XWB cabin provides passengers and crews the best in comfort, well-being and technology.
To date, Airbus has recorded a total of 848 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 45 customers worldwide, already making it one of the most successful wide-body aircraft ever. With 287 firm orders for the A350 from carriers in Asia-Pacific, the region represents over a third of total sales for the type to date.
Reported by : Manjunath NK
Bangalore, India
Airlines
British Airways will be the sole airline offering full business class suites on routes between the UK & Japan
British Airways launching its latest business class Club Suite cabin, on flights between London Heathrow and Tokyo Haneda. From 31 October, it will be the only airline offering a business class suite with a full privacy door on direct flights between the UK and Japan. Club Suite has been designed to offer privacy, comfort, and space for customers wanting to work, rest, and play.
Chefs have designed commemorative dishes for all four cabins based on heritage menus from the airline’s enormous collection, which will be served on Heathrow to Haneda flights from September 1 to October 31. Customers will be able to experience the most popular foods served on the route in 1969 – beef stroganoff and beef cheek okaribayaki – and the airline has also produced a festive cherry meringue gateau, the characteristic dessert enjoyed by flyers on the London to Anchorage segment that same year.
Emirates Resume Tokyo Haneda Flights(Opens in a new browser tab)
In a 1-2-1 layout, the airline’s Club Suite flat-bed seat provides direct aisle access and a suite door for increased privacy. boasting an impressive 18.5-inch in-flight entertainment screen, WiFi, a vanity stand with a mirror, and 40% extra storage. The B777-300ER* fleet’s BA6 and BA5 flights will provide the most recent business class seats. Across the Club World cabin, customers enjoy a luxurious plush pillow and warm quilt from The White Company, an amenity kit and an improved dining experience.
Customers flying in the airline’s First cabin to and from Tokyo starting on September 1 will enjoy the most luxurious service available, including custom loungewear and amenity kits created by Temperley London, a high-end British fashion label, as well as goods from ELEMIS, including the renowned ULTRA SMART PRO-COLLAGEN range and bedding made from recycled plastic bottles.
Airlines
Air France-KLM Orders 90 Airbus A350 Long-Range Aircraft
The Air France-KLM Group has today stated that it intends to place a historic aircraft order in an effort to modernize and simplify its long-haul fleet, enhancing the Group’s economic and environmental performance.
First deliveries of the 50 Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft under this group order are scheduled to begin in 2026 and continue through 2030, with the option to purchase a further 40 aircraft. In accordance with market dynamics and regional regulatory frameworks, the Group will have the flexibility to assign aircraft among its portfolio of airlines under this evolving order.
These aircraft will replace previous-generation aircraft, namely Airbus A330 and older Boeing 777 aircraft. This new order will come in addition to an existing Air France-KLM order for 41 Airbus A350-900s for Air France, of which 22 have been delivered to date. With these combined orders, covering up to 99 aircraft, Air France-KLM would become the world’s largest A350 family aircraft operator.
The Airbus A350 symbolizes the transition to a more sustainable air transport industry. The aircraft consumes 25% less fuel than an equivalent-sized, previous-generation aircraft, thanks to the use of lighter materials: 53% composites and 14% titanium. Its noise footprint is also reduced by 40%.
By 2028, the share of new-generation aircraft in the Air France-KLM fleet will reach 64%, compared to 5% in 2019. Air France-KLM was flying 533 aircraft as of September 25, 2023, to more than 300 locations across the world. After placing this order, the Group will have over 220 aircraft on order, including 100 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, with maiden deliveries anticipated by the end of 2023.
Airlines
Airbus announces plans to hire 1,000 Employees across the UK
Airbus, a major player in the aerospace industry, has announced ambitions to hire an additional 1,100 workers in the UK. Positions available include those for robotics engineers, manufacturing engineers, cryogenics system engineers, project and programme managers, software engineers, and cyber security engineers.
Airbus is the largest civil aerospace company in the UK, the largest exporter of civil aerospace products, the largest provider of large aircraft to the Royal Air Force, and the manufacturer of about 50% of the country’s civil helicopter fleet. Airbus has more than 25 locations throughout the UK.
The report finds that Airbus remains a significant part of the UK’s larger industrial manufacturing capabilities, supporting economic success, after assessing the influence of Airbus in areas including jobs, investment, research and development (R&D), supply chain, and sovereign capability.
Emirates’ Boeing 777 Fleet Tops 859,000 Flights..!(Opens in a new browser tab)
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