Scandinavian carrier SAS signs a MOU for 8 A350-900 XWB the week after Paris Air Show.

Scandinavian carrier SAS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 8 A350 XWBs (with options for another 6 aircraft) and 4 A330s, as part of its strategy to modernize its fleet with more fuel-efficient aircraft. The agreement was signed in the Nowegian capital, Oslo. The new A350-900s and A330-300s will join the airline’s existing fleet of 30 Airbus aircraft.

 

“The great technological improvements of this extensive fleet renewal plan give SAS a long haul fleet that will be top of class in the industry. It will truly increase our competitiveness and strengthen our customer offering – both with regard to comfort, service and efficiency. We look forward to welcoming our passengers on board these fuel efficient aircraft with extremely comfortable and quiet cabins,” said Rickard Gustafson, SAS Group President & CEO.

 

“We are delighted that SAS has underscored their confidence in Airbus by selecting our A330, which offers unbeatable economics and the highest level of operational reliability alongside the A350 XWB, the world’s most technologically advanced and efficient aircraft,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.’’  

 
With the announcement today, SAS initiates important measures to secure a modern and efficient long haul fleet with state of the art aircraft technology from Airbus.

“I look back at an extremely eventful year for SAS with tangible results. We have introduced, delivered and will continue to deliver on our important plan for a profitable SAS. We have launched more than 50 new routes and a completely new customer offer. And now we present a highly competitive long haul plan which will allow SAS to continue our proactive efforts,” said Rickard Gustafson.

The A350 will be delivered to SAS starting 2018 and meanwhile the 4 A330-300 Enhanced will be delivered to SAS starting 2015.

Based on the press release “SAS selects eight A350 XWBs and four A330s”

4 out of 5 787-10 Launch-Customers are also A350 XWB customers. None of the Persian Gulf carriers is part of the launch group.

As Airbus moves closer to introducing the A350, Boeing is further broadening its widebody offering in the medium-large twin segment. The long-anticipated 787-10 launch comes on the heels of 102 orders from 5 customers. Scott Fancher, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president and general manager for airplane development, said at Paris Air Show that launch of the proposed 777X is also “rapidly approaching,” perhaps by year-end. The first 787-10, the largest of the three 787 versions, is to be delivered in 2018.

 

Among the customers launching the program are Air Lease Corp. (30 aircraft), Singapore Airlines (30), United Airlines (20), British Airways (12) and GE Capital Aviation Services –Gecas- (10). These are all new commitments, except 10 of the 20 United aircraft, rolled over from a previous 787 order and converted into the larger version.

The 787-10 is a 18-ft. stretch of the -9, allowing room for 40 more seats; Boeing says it will accommodate 300-330 passengers and have a range of 7,000 nm. Final assembly and flight tests are both to begin in 2017, with first delivery scheduled for 2018.

 

There have been concerns that, as a double-stretch of the original design, the -10's range might be insufficient for many carriers. And interestingly, none of the otherwise eagerly investing Persian Gulf carriers is part of the launch group—many of their routes are too long for the aircraft. But the increased range and slightly higher maximum takeoff weight of 553,000 lb. seem to have assuaged concerns. Reinforcements in the wing-to-body attachment area and on the landing gear were needed to accommodate the increased weight. Engine thrust will also be slightly higher than originally planned. “The range covers 97% of the widebody city pairs of the world,” Air Lease Corp. (ALC) Chairman/CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy points out. Its range will be 1,500 nm less than the -9's.

All of the 787-10 customers so far except Gecas have also ordered a version of the A350. United has 25 A350-900s on firm order; BA is taking 18 A350-1000s (plus options for 18 more); Singapore Airlines has firm orders for 40 A350-900s; and ALC has committed to taking 20 A350-900s and five -1000s. “That is a comment about the size of that market segment,” says Jeff Knittel, president of lessor CIT Transportation Finance. “The yields are still better and it is growing faster than short-haul.” Therefore “there is a demand for both aircraft.”

Based on the article “Boeing Launches 787-10 As A350 Enters Flight Tests” published in Aviation Week.

Air France-KLM finally signs the order for 25 A350-900 announced 2 years ago and includes further 25 options after reaching an agreement with Rolls Royce.

Airbus sealed a long-awaited order for 25 A350-900 aircraft from Air France-KLM worth $7.2 billion at list prices after Rolls-Royce and the airline reached a deal over engine maintenance.

The airline also took a further 25 options on the planes, the companies said at the Paris AirShow.

Air France-KLM has been at loggerheads with suppliers over issues mainly including maintenance of the plane's Rolls-Royce engines ever since the deal was first mooted in 2011. Air France and Rolls had clashed over conflicting ideas for engine supply deals.

The airline said in Le Bourget, however, that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Rolls-Royce to equip the A350s with Trent XWB engines, including their maintenance by Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance. Rolls said the deal to power the 25 A350s was worth $1.1 billion at list prices.

Air France traditionally orders engines from Rolls' U.S. rival General Electric, but the A350 is powered exclusively by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.

Air France-KLM is seeking to lower costs by cutting jobs and restructuring its network as it aims to return to profit and cut debt by 2 billion euros by the end of next year. It faces soaring fuel costs, a worsening cargo business and tough competition from Gulf and low-cost carriers.

"This shows that despite some difficulties Air France-KLM is facing, we are in sufficiently good shape to be able to plan the renewal of our long-haul fleet," said Alexandre de Juniac, who is due to become Air France-KLM chief executive from July 1.

Air France-KLM currently operates a fleet of just over 190 Airbus aircraft.

Based on the article “Airbus wins A350 order from Air France-KLM” published in Reuters

Rotating the test crew in the 2nd flight and increasing the confidence in the 3rd long-flight test.

The 2^nd flight test was made on 19/June and was the first time the A350 XWB flight over open-sea in the Atlantic coast at La Rochelle. The A350 MSN001 cleared the full envelope on a mission that lasted more than 5 hr. The aircraft climbed to 42,000 ft. and reached Mach 0.89, its maximum cruise speed, as well as its maximum angle of attack in normal law

click on the picture to watch the video

There were 2 changes to the flight crew:

• Fernando Alonso was replaced by Didier Ronceray (who was on the telemetry room on the first flight). 
• Guy Magrin was replaced by Frank Chapman (who was the commenter in the live transmission of the first flight) 

Airbus is rotating their test pilots&engineers around even from second flight. The team that will fly the A350 flight test aircraft fleet (5 planes) is composed by more than 20 members.

  

click on the picture to watch the video

There were 3 take offs; 

• 1st long and high flight over sea (up to FL430)
• 2nd take off, right hand circuit and landing
• 3rd take off, tight left hand circuit and landing

"I think the way this [flight-test campaign] has started is tremendous." said Fernando Alonso

The 3^rd flight test lasted for 8 hours and 44 minutes (from 10:49h  to 19:33h) and it was flying over Le Bourget Air Show on 21/June at 13:32h (just before starting the flight display with the French Acrobatic Patrol)   

The confidence of the test crew is increasing as the parachutes, helmets and orange flightsuits were not worn for the 3^rd flight.

 

Once again, the crew was changed for this flight; Guy Magrin came back, joining Peter Chandler and Pascal Verneau in the flight deck. The flight test engineers consisted of Emanuele Costanzo (engine test engineer who also flew on the 1st and 2nd flights), Didier Ronceray (who flew on the second flight) and Tuan Do.

 

 

 

Flight AIB03WB on FR24 

 

 

China and Russia launch a study for alternative aircraft that will compete against the 787 and the A350 XWB.

When the wide-body aircraft market is a shared duopoly between Boeing (787 & 777 families) and Airbus (A350 family), it seems that China and Russia have launched pre-feasibility studies for a jointly developed wide-body aircraft project.

China and Russia will work together to carry out market, conceptual design, key technologies, basic comprehensive, business and other five areas demonstration and research work. By 2015 it is scheduled to complete the preliminary joint evaluation work after identifying key technologies, conducting research studies, defining the Sino-Russian cooperation, the economic feasibility and airworthiness certification requirements.

The Russian Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Yuri Slusar said that the wide-body aircraft project will be funded by the Russian side to provide technical and commercial fund, although the joint venture will be located in China.

The range-target for the new wide-body aircraft will be 18.500 km, bigger than ranges of 787 and A350.

Based on the article “Challenges B787 and A350: Russian wide-body aircraft project surfaced” published in Financial News

Airbus has announced in Paris Air Show the agreement reached with United Airlines for 35 A350-1000 aircraft

United Airlines and Airbus have announced that the airline will add 35 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft to its future fleet. The agreement between the companies represents a conversion of the U.S. carrier's previous order for 25 A350-900s to the -1000 model, as well as the addition of 10 more orders for A350-1000 aircraft. The announcement was made during the Paris Air Show.

The A350-1000 is capable of flying 8,400 nautical miles non-stop and will be operated by United on higher density routes, including non-stop flights between the United States and the Asia/Pacific region.

“We look forward to taking delivery of the A350-1000,” said Jeff Smisek, United’s Chairman, President and CEO. “This is a modern, fuel-efficient and advanced-technology aircraft that our customers and co-workers will enjoy flying.  It will be a great addition to our fleet and will allow us to meet demand on larger, long-haul markets in our world-leading network.”

“The latest announcement from United Airlines is yet another endorsement for the A350-1000,” said Fabrice Bregier, Airbus President and CEO. “Less than a week after the success of the A350 XWB’s first flight, we see that demand for the new aircraft continues to grow, especially for the larger -1000 model. Airbus is proud to have United Airlines on board the exciting A350 program in such a significant way.” 

The A350 XWB debuts in the París Air Show

In the3rd flight, the MSN001 is over-flying the 50 th edition of the París Air Show. French President Hollande is attending today, the first public day of the show and he will be the witness of this milestone.

In TLS on 14 june 2013

Great surprise.