Spanish Tier1 Alestis rescue-plan. “It was an exclusively financial issue” Brégier said.

Brégier answered a question from a Spanish journalist on the situation of Alestis, the Tier1 in charge of the A350 Belly Fairing and the fuselage section 19.1.

Brégier stated that the company has never had problems neither on deliveries nor in quality but the problem is of a financial nature. Brégier described as "very rare" the topic of Alestis: "I think that the problem of Alestis is already solved. We are expecting still the green light from the European Commission. What happened to Alestis has been a very rare issue. "

MSN3 in Canada

"Alestis is a very capable company, which has been doing a great job in all programs, but it broke and we had to take control. But negotiations have been very complex, they have taken a long time, but they came to fruition at the end of the year. Thus, instead of having to close the sites, with the consequent loss of jobs, we decided to contribute to the rescue-plan, since it was an exclusively financial issue."

Brégier also told the Spanish press that he did not believe that there was any problem with the Community authorities regarding the takeover of the capital by Airbus and the contribution that both the Spanish and the Regional governments must continue. Brégier explained that: "Is not subsidies, but go to pay the debts incurred by Alestis."

Based on the article “El presidente de Airbus tacha de “hipócrita” la postura de Boeing con las ayudas al B-777X” published in FlyNews.

A350 XWB at Singapore Airshow on 11/Feb. First ever Airshow-flying display.

The Asia-Pacific region is a core market for Airbus with nearly 100 airlines across the region, more than 2,400 Airbus aircraft in service and over 1,700 aircraft on order for future delivery. That is the reason Airbus will have a broad presence at Singapore Airshow, Asia’s largest aeronautical and defence airshow. Asia-Pacific is the region which represents over 1/3 of the company's total backlog.

Airshow visitors will be able to enjoy the A350 XWB flight-test aircraft (MSN 3) performing its first ever airshow flying display on both, the 11th and 12th February. Airbus will broadcast the A350 XWB flying display live,  via a special Singapore Airshow website on www.airbus.com.

A full scale A350 XWB cockpit as well as an interactive A350 XWB model will be on expo at the Airbus stand. Guests can also discover Airbus’ benchmark cabin comfort standards in a dedicated Comfort Zone at the Airbus tent, located on the static display area.

Based on the press release "Airbus to have major presence at Singapore Airshow"

A350 XWB makes debut at Doha

An A350 XWB flight test aircraft (MSN3) has made its premiere appearance at Doha’s new Hamad international airport, on its way to the Singapore Airshow. The visit is part of the Entry-into-Service preparations between Airbus and Qatar Airways, the A350 XWB launch customer, who will take delivery of its first A350 XWB in Q4 this year.

During the visit, the aircraft was welcomed by Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker as well as government officials, eager to see the aircraft performing in Qatar’s skies.

Based on the press release "A350 XWB makes debut at Doha"

Qatar Airways CEO assesses A350 progress; “I am pleased with what I have seen during my visit."

Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al Baker, visited Airbus' facilities in Toulouse to get first-hand information on the A350 programme's progress.

During his site-tour, Mr Al Baker unveiled Airbus’ newest flight test aircraft MSN4, branded with a special 'launch customer' livery. The aircraft will soon join the A350 flight test fleet for external noise and lightning tests, avionics development & certification and training for first customer pilots & maintenance teams. 

Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al Baker, together with Fabrice Brégier, Airbus president and CEO and Didier Evrard, executive vice president, head of A350 XWB program.

“I am pleased with what I have seen during my visit. It gives me every confidence that the programme is well on track for our first delivery in 2014. At Qatar Airways, we are eager to open a new chapter of efficient and comfortable air travel and the A350 XWB will do this for us. The aircraft will give us that extra edge in economics and comfort to further boost our route expansion.” commented Akbar Al Baker.
Airbus and Qatar Airways are working closely together to ensure a successful entry-into-service of this all-new aircraft from day one. 



Based on the press release "First-hand A350 XWB experience"

787 and A350 head to head at an air show for the first time. Next week, in Singapore.

The rival latest-generation widebodies from Airbus and Boeing will go head to head at an air show for the first time at the Singapore air show, which kicks off next week on 11/February.

Southeast Asia is a key battleground for the contest between the A350 and the 787, with the Asia-Pacific region accounting for 1/3 of all sales of the 2 twinjets.

While the A350 – prototype MSN3 – will take part in the flying display, it is not certain whether it will be joined by the 787. Boeing will only confirm that the Qatar Airways-liveried Dreamliner will be on the static display.

787 Qatar Airways in Le Bourget

All eyes will be on whether the airframers can secure further deals for their new types. Singapore Airlines has already split its loyalties. The city-state’s flag carrier has firm orders for 70 A350-900s, while it is also launch customer for the 787-10, with 30 on order.

Indonesia’s Garuda and Philippine Airlines are looking to the A350 or 787 as a possible replacement forA330s, while Malaysia Airlines is evaluating the A350 and 787 to replace 777-200ERs.

Based on the article “Singapore: A350 and 787 set to face off” published in Flight International

Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines are the most important customers of the A350

Without mentioning Emirates, Etihad and Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways as the launch customer and Singapore Airlines are the most important customers of the A350. And Airbus will try to avoid creating jealousy between them.

Airbus is attending for the first time an Airshow with both fly and static display of the MSN3 flying prototype that is progressing with the certification campaign as expected. This prototype has been in Bolivia, Martinique and Canada in January and it is the first time flying to Asia to the Singapore Airshow. It will be on static display 11–12/February and will also take part in the flying display on both days next week.

Airbus has started to “prepare” the Singapore Airshow.

Meanwhile Airbus will show the special painting scheme of the MSN4 -its 4^th A350 test-flight aircraft- in a special hybrid livery based on the color scheme of Qatar Airways. The rear fuselage of the MSN4 aircraft will carry Qatar Airways´ oryx logo on the vertical fin and the A350 XWB product scheme will be on the forward fuselage.

MSN2 cabin equipped prototype, with the special black & white livery is expected to airborne in coming weeks as well as the MSN4 with the special hybrid livery.

ATK extends current contract for composite stringers and frames manufacturing on the A350-1000 model

 ATK has finalized an agreement with Airbus to manufacture and supply composite stringers and frames on the A350-1000 model. The contract expansion adds to the work already being performed on the A350 XWB program. This agreement is the next step in ATK's valuable working relationship with Airbus and its partners, Aerolia SAS and Premium Aerotec GmbH.

"This is another significant milestone in our long-term partnership with Airbus on the A350 XWB program. We are excited about the possibilities that the –1000 variant presents, and our team is eager to continue this journey," said Joy de Lisser, vice president and general manager of ATK's Aerospace Structures division. "Our work with Airbus is an incredibly important component of growth for ATK in the commercial aerospace structures business, as we consistently provide highly engineered solutions for our customers."

ATK is currently producing composite stringers and frames for the A350-900 and has successfully delivered more than 10,000 parts since the start of the program. These parts – the equivalent of more than 15 ship sets – are a demonstration of ATK's ability to meet customers' high quality standards and delivery requirements, and ATK is ready to meet planned production rate increases.

The A350 XWB work is performed at ATK's Aircraft Commercial Center of Excellence (ACCE) facility in Clearfield, Utah. This contract expansion will allow ATK to hire additional professional and manufacturing employees, adding to Utah's job market.

ATK's proprietary automated stiffener forming machines (ASFM) have been instrumental in the development and manufacture of high-rate production composite stringers and frames. This highly engineered technology is essential to manufacture the A350 XWB composite stringers and frames, which enables ATK to produce extremely high quality, dimensionally precise and highly repeatable composite components. 

Based on the press release “ATK and Airbus Finalize Agreement on A350 XWB-1000 Variant”