Two news in one headline; “American Airlines’ A350s will be A350-900s”

American Airlines – which merged with US Airways last 9/Dec – said that the company and Airbus have amended the agreement to state that its 22 A350s will be A350-900s. Deliveries will begin in 2017.

The original order, from October/2007, was placed by US Airways ordering 22 Airbus A350 aircraft; 18 were to be the smaller A350-800s with only 4 to be the A350-900s.

Originally, US Airways was to get its first A350 in 2014. In 2009, it announced the schedule had slipped to 2017, with all to arrive by the end of 2019.

There are 2 news on this announcement disclosed by American Airlines in a stock exchange filing after the close of markets in New York on 27/December: the confirmation of the 22 aircraft ordered by US Airways -20 days after the merger with American- and the change from A350-800 to larger A350-900 model, as preferred by Airbus.


Based on the article “American Airlines’ Airbus A350s will be A350-900s” published in Dallas News

EADS CEO Tom Enders awarded as the Best Performing CAC 40 Manager by as per France’s Challenges Magazine. The award recognizes the overall performance of EADS in 2013.

EADS Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tom Enders has been named Best Performing Manager among the CAC 40 companies by France’s Challenges Magazine. Enders was presented with the award by Fleur Pellerin, French Minister Delegate for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Innovation and the Digital Economy and Vincent Beaufils, Managing Editor of Challenges Magazine. The award recognizes the overall performance of EADS in 2013.

"I accept this award with great pride on behalf of all of us at EADS. The success and performance of our Group is the result of the engagement and dedication of everybody at EADS. It’s a team achievement for which I am extremely grateful," Enders said at the award ceremony.

Tom Enders and Fleur Pellerin, French Minister Delegate for Innovation and Small& Medium-Sized Enterprises.

"2013 was a tremendously fast paced and transformational year for the Group. We witnessed the first flight of the A350XWB and the first deliveries of A400M military transport aircraft to France. In our helicopter business, the French Ministry of Defence endorsed the NH90 helicopter with a key order for 34 additional units. Furthermore, Astrium fostered the position of the Ariane 5 as the world’s most reliable launcher with the 57th consecutive successful launch in a row”, said Enders.

“We also implemented a normal corporate governance, welcomed a large number of new private shareholders and saw the market value of EADS significantly increasing. From next year onwards, we will be Airbus Group, capitalizing on our strongest brand. And we are enhancing the competitiveness of our defence and space activities integrated into one Division, Airbus Defence and Space,” Enders added.


Based on the press release “Tom Enders Named 2013 Best Performing CAC 40 Manager by France’s Challenges Magazine”

GKN Aerospace receives its second award for the A350 XWB rear wing spar design.

The UK Composites Industry award for ‘Innovation in Composites Design’ is one of 8 awards made by Composite UK, the trade body for the UK composites industry.

This second award also recognizes the success of the intensive development and production program for the A350 XWB wing spar, with GKN Aerospace engineers working closely with the Airbus engineering team and materials supplier Hexcel throughout. As a result the spar has met demanding weight, strength and flexibility targets.

The 27m long A350 XWB rear wing spar is manufactured in 3 sections and forms the structural heart of the aircraft wing’s fixed trailing edge (FTE), holding vital parts such as the main landing gear. The spar has complex integral contours that enable it to carry precise customer-specified aircraft loads at critical points and yet remain flexible and lightweight.

Automated Fibre Placement (AFP) machine used in GKN

Chris Gear, vice-president chief engineering, GKN Aerospace explained: “Creating the advanced manufacturing processes and materials to manufacture this innovative structure has strengthened the UK’s industrial lead in complex composite structure manufacture. Our partnership with Hexcel on this activity has been particularly rewarding and we believe the new material has immense potential.”


Based on the article “GKN gains further recognition for A350 XWB wing spar“ published in Composites in Manufacturing

Hexcel supplies composite raw material with a value of $5 million per aircraft in the A350 XWB program.

“In 2014, we expect another record year with constant currency sales growth of approximately 10%, continued operating income margin expansion, double-digit growth in earnings per share and to generate free cash flow while continuing to fund our capital expenditures ramp-up,” said Hexcel CEO Nick Stanage. “Commercial Aerospace will again lead our sales growth. While the B787 was a key driver of this in 2013, Hexcel content per A350 XWB is now estimated at $5 million per shipset – a significant milestone that reflects both the breadth and depth of our products as well as nearly ten years of dedicated effort.”

Stringer run-out demonstrator shown in Le Bourget/2013

Hexcel anticipates 2014 revenues of between $1.80-1.88 billion in 2014, compared to 2013 revenue of between $1.65-1.68 billion. Commercial Aerospace, which comprises about 63% of the company’s last 12-months sales, will be driven by sales to Airbus, Boeing, and their subcontractors thanks to on-going increases in aircraft build rates and new composite-rich aircraft programs that are ramping up. Regional and business aircraft account for the remaining 15% of Commercial Aerospace sales and are also expected to increase in 2014.

Capital expenditures for 2014 are targeted to be $225 million to $250 million. This amount is higher than the company’s estimates from a year ago, reflecting Hexcel’s increased content on

the A350 XWB and to support higher aerospace growth in the mid-term. There is no change in Hexcel’s view on total capital expenditures needed to reach its $2.5 billion sales target in 2017.



Based on the article “Hexcel benefits from composites-rich programmes” published in Eco Composites

Merry A350 X WB MAS

Greeting Card issued by Airbus

Another A350 customer orders … 777-Xs.

  

Cathay Pacific has placed an order for 21 Boeing 777-9X aircraft, with deliveries to take place between 2021 and 2024. The aircraft are worth $7.5 billion at list prices, said the Oneworld carrier in a statement.

“Cathay Pacific is committed to modernizing its fleet to provide a superior experience to passengers while at the same time delivering cost benefits to the airline and reducing our impact on the environment,” said Cathay chief executive John Slosar.
“The 777-300ER has done a super job for us – indeed, Cathay Pacific is now the second largest operator of this type – and we are delighted to be an early customer for this next generation of the aircraft.”

He said the aircraft will be used mainly on routes to North America and Europe, particularly routes with high volumes of both passengers and cargo.
Cathay Pacific operates 38 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, and has another 12 on order. The carrier also has orders for 26 Airbus A350-1000s, and 22 A350-900s.

Current 777X customers have A350 XWBs in their orderbook:

• Lufthansa: 25 orders for A350-900
• Ethiad Airways: 40 orders for A350-900 and 22 orders for A350-1000
• Qatar Airways: 43 orders for A350-900 and 37 orders for A350-1000
• Emirates: 50 orders for A350-900 and 20 orders for A350-1000
• Cathay Pacific: 22 orders for A350-900 and 26 orders for A350-1000

Based on the article “Cathay orders 21 777-9Xs” published in FlightGlobal

Not all A350 XWB will be configured in what Airbus considers the passenger comfort standard of 18-in seat width. It can be called “high-density configuration” or also “eco-efficient leisure cabin”.

For the past few months, Airbus has been campaigning for an 18-in seat width standard on long-haul aircraft, even though the European airframer continues to advertise the option for airlines to order a high-density 10-abreast A350.

Some industry observers believe that, in flogging an 18-in “comfort” standard while actively pitching super snug, high-density configurations, Airbus is talking out of both sides of its mouth.

Airbus VP cabin innovation & design Ingo Wuggetzer disagrees, saying the airframer is being forward thinking, and considering the next generation of traveler. “In general, we see people are growing more in width than height, so there should be a demand and I think we also have a good position because we have the best cross section in the market. So we should make use of it. [So we’re] offering seat width that is superior, and is made for that next generation of traveller,” he says.

Wuggetzer notes that Airbus didn’t draw conclusions about an 18-in comfort standard on its own. “We also asked our questions during a customer workshop in June on a survey we performed based on several seating configurations.”

He also revealed that all Airbus A350 customers “except one low-cost carrier” had adhered to an 18-in seat width in economy. Flightglobal in May/2012 reported that AirAsia X had ordered its A350s in 2-class configuration, with 10-abreast in economy. Air Caraibes has ordered 3+3 A350-900 and A350-1000 with 387 and 439 seats in “eco-efficient leisure cabin”.

But one can’t help but wonder if other airlines will follow suit, as the market has wholly embraced the 10-abreast 777-300ER and its 777X successor (even in the face of passenger consternation about 10-abreast).



Based on the article “Nearly all A350 buyers opt for 18-in seat width” published in Run Way Girl Network.