And the 1st 10-abreast A350 goes to … Air Caraïbes.

Airbus confirmed at the Dubai Air Show that it has a customer for the “Budget Economy” product on its A350XWB aircraft.

Source: Airbus

 

That means 10-across seating will be flying on the A350 a couple years hence.

 

Mark Pearman-Wright, Head of Corporate & Investor Marketing Customer Affairs, confirmed in an interview at the show that a European leisure-market carrier has ordered the dense layout for its pending orders.

 

Based on a review of the open order book this almost certainly indicates that Air Caraïbes will be that customer.

 

Air Caraïbes has 6 A350s on order with deliveries initially expected for 2016 but more likely 2017.

 

The French airline currently flies A330s in a 9-abreast layout; going 10-across on the A350 is not too surprising in that context.

 

The confirmation means that the A350 will see a budget economy layout before the A380 will, despite much noise around the potential for 11-abreast on the larger aircraft.

 

Based on the article “Air Caraibes to be First 10-abreast A350 Customer” published in Wandering Aramean Blog.