Source: Lee Halford
The
New Business Class seat design customized by Porsche will incorporate
a dimmable reading light.
The
Panasonic eX3 inflight entertainment system (IFE) will have full-swipe
capability similar to that seen on Qatar Airways’ and Finnair’s A350s.
Taking
into consideration its tremendously successful Australian operation –at around 88%
and 98% load factor during the Golden Week- the meaningful question is if
Cathay needs more A350-900 than existing 22 units on order.
The
A350 is uniquely suitable for replacing the 13 251-seat reconfigured A330-300s,
with a 12.04% bigger Economy cabin.
Source: Travelling For Miles
This
means that route groups are already clamouring for the 22 A350-900s, with the
inaugural long-haul A350
service to Auckland in May/2016 taking up 2 aircraft, following
regional familiarisation to Manila, Taipei, Singapore, Osaka Kansai,
Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City.
Assuming 6 of the 13 long-haul A330-300s are replaced, this will already have taken up 8 A350-900s inclusive of the daily Auckland service, leaving 14 aircraft destined for the rationalisation of European network which currently takes precedence, or 7 destinations in both directions.
Source: andiation380
Further factoring in launches of new
destinations such as Copenhagen and Seattle, as well as extra frequency
opportunities such as making Düsseldorf or Manchester more than 4 times
weekly with the smaller A350, it is very easy to see why the A350-900 is in
high demand within Cathay.
A
potential workaround is to deploy the displaced 3-class 777-300ERs from Europe
onto the Sydney and Melbourne routes, albeit the oneworld carrier is already
studying the deployment of A350-900s to Australia in late-2016.
Based
on the article “Cathay Pacific´s new livery signifies fresh direction”
published in Aspire Aviation.
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ReplyDeleteWhat a positive piece of news, good to hear the possibility of more orders for the A350. Is the A350 an option to replace the old 757? The reason I ask, is that I read a piece of news recently about Boeing thinking of building a twin isle replacement for the 757. Is there a Market for such an Aircraft and is the A350 to big to be considered?
ReplyDeleteJC
cont.
ReplyDeleteI always thought the A321/neo or A323 were alternatives, with a possible market of 800-1000 Aircraft and even a extra one for Donald Trump! But the option of a twin isle for a single isle aircraft didn't even cross my mind. Is Boeing going mad or is this an astute way of introducing the single isle market towards the wide body market?
JC
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