Sigma Components UK-supplier onboard A350 XWB

Sigma Components, part of Avingtrans plc’s aerospace division, has signed a contract worth £25 million to supply complex fabricated assemblies for the Airbus A350 XWB program.

Source: Sigma Components

The 10-year contract with PFW Aerospace GmbH (German tube-supplier rescued by Airbus some years ago) will be managed from the company’s expanded Farnborough site and will see Sigma becoming the sole supplier to PFW for numerous critical assemblies on the A350 program.

Source: Sigma Components

Mark Johnson, founder and managing director of Sigma Components, said: “This contract is great news for the Farnborough business that we acquired in 2012 and reflects well on the team developing such a positive relationship with PFW.

Source: Hinckley Times

“This sole-supply contract is the 5 long-term agreement we have signed over the last 2 years.  We will now be making additional investment in our Farnborough manufacturing capability to ensure we can build on this success into 2015 and beyond.”

Based on the press release “Sigma Components Celebrates Airbus A350 Contract”

1st Royal-visit at A350 Final Assembly Line

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden have included a visit to the A350 FAL in Toulouse in their 3 day State visit in France.

During the visit guided by Mr Didier Evrard (A350 head of Program), the King and Queen met with some of Airbus’ Swedish employees. The royal party also visited the A350 Flight Test aircraft MSN 5.

Scandinavian Airline Services (SAS) had signed a firm order for 8 A350-900 aircraft to be delivered from 2018.  

The King and Queen were accompanied by 2 Swedish Ministers (for Employment and for Energy) as well as by the French Secretary of State, the Swedish & French ambassadors. The Royals were welcomed at the entrance of the A350 Final Assembly Line by the Chief HR Officer Airbus, Thierry Baril, and Didier Evrard, EVP Head of A350XWB Program.

 All pictures by Airbus.

Based on the press release “Swedish King and Queen tour Airbus during State visit“

Qatar plans Delivery on 13/Dec and inaugural commercial flight for A350-900 from Frankfurt on 15/Jan/15.

Qatar Airways has confirmed that the 1st delivery event will be held on Saturday 13/Dec. The airline is planning 1 month of training flights before starting commercial service with the first A350-900 (MSN6) operating Doha – Frankfurt route once a day from 15/JAN/15.

Source: Jujug Spotting

These are flight numbers and timetable schedules:

QR069 DOH0205 – 0655FRA 788 D
QR067 DOH0740 – 1230FRA 359 D

QR070 FRA1045 – 1840DOH 788 D
QR068 FRA1525 – 2325DOH 359 D

https://www.flickr.com/photos/47086222@N03/15262554684/lightbox/

However Qatar Airways announces that “Planned A350-900XWB service remain subject to change.”

The second A350-900 (MSN7) aircraft´s hand-over is planned for January/2015.

Source: Jujug Spotting

More info on how to book a ticket here.

Based on the article “QATAR Airways to Start A350 Frankfurt Service from Jan 2015” published in Airline Route

Finnair repeats and orders 8 additional A350-900

Finnair has signed an agreement firming up the order for 8 additional  A350-900s.

Source: Airbus

Finnair was the first airline to select the A350 XWB and will be the first European airline in autumn 2015 to receive the A350 with the first aircraft planned MSN18. 

Source: Airbus

Finnair will take its first 4 A350s in the second half of next year. Another 7 will be delivered over 2016-17 with the remaining 8 arriving over 2018-23. Finnair’s A350-900s, with 297 seats, will be deployed on long-haul routes to Asia and America.

 Source: Airbus

"Our strategy centers on growth, taking advantage of the unique geographical location of our Helsinki Hub, which offers the fastest connections between Europe and Asia. The A350XWB aircraft will be essential in delivering on our strategy. Firming up the order for additional 8 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft demonstrates our commitment to growth and to operating a world class Airbus fleet", says Pekka Vauramo, Finnair CEO.

Source: Airbus

Finnair currently operates an all Airbus fleet of 45 aircraft (30 A320 Family aircraft and 15 A330s/A340s). Finnair was launch customer of the A350, and in 2007 placed an order for 11 A350-900s, including an option for further 8. This agreement brings the total committed order to 19 A350-900s.

Source: Airbus

With this new order, the A350 XWB had won 783 orders from 40 customers worldwide.

Based on the press release “Finnair orders eight additional A350 XWBs”

Air Tahiti studying the A350 for fleet renewal. Available slots –again- is a driver.

Air Tahiti Nui is considering either the A330neo or the A350 Family of aircraft as potential replacements for its fleet of 5 A340-300s. The Tahiti Infos news site says the carrier is looking to acquire either 4 upgraded A330s or A350-900s. Given order backlogs with manufacturers Airbus, Air Tahiti Nui will likely only take delivery of its first new aircraft in 2019/2020 at the earliest.

Source: Airbus

"It is not we who define the schedule, it is the manufacturers," CEO Michel Monvoisin said. "At this point in time, we have to consider that the best possible delivery date [for new jets] will be in either 2019 or 2020."

Source: publico.pt

The renewal plan has taken on a strong degree of urgency given that the expiration in 2017 of a French law exempting tax on investments in France's overseas territories (Loi de Développement économique des outremers - Lodeom) could result in an extra-cost in each aircraft of around EUR 67million.

 

Based on the article “Air Tahiti Nui studying the A330neo, A350 for fleet renewal” published in Ch-aviation

A350 Formation flight of 5 prototypes. Backstage.

Airbus has released an interesting video showing how the A350 Formation flight of the 5 prototypes held last 29/Sep was prepared.

This Formation flight around Toulouse was performed the day before achieving the Type Certification by EASA.

Click here to watch the video (6.3 minutes).

All pictures are video-captures. 






.

Malaysia Airlines eyes A350 but wants first deliveries in 2017.

Malaysia Airlines could decide between the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 as its future of its long-range fleet as early as March/2015 for delivery in 2017 as a first step in a sweeping restructuring of the airline.

The Malaysian flag-carrier is preparing to be nationalised under full control of state-run Khazanah Nasional by year’s end and choosing a fuel-efficient replacement for its ageing Boeing 777 fleet is now a high priority for the airline.

“We definitely see an urgent need to have a long-term fleet plan for MAS” said Mr PK Lee, Regional Senior Vice President of Malaysia Airlines.

Source: publico.pt

“Once we establish a new business model consistent with our aspirations as a premium airline, we need to align this to our fleet plan” Lee told Australian Business Traveller in Kuala Lumpur.

“In March/2015 we will have an accurate picture of our first design for the new business – including fleet size, fleet types and fleet plan – so this will be an important milestone for making that decision so that in 2-3 years time we have the best aircraft for the long term.”

Lee said that while replacing the Boeing 777s had previously been discussed, “the total revamp of the organisation is an opportunity for MAS to seriously look at the fleet type”, adding that the issue was “definitely more important” in light of the pending nationalisation.

“The A350 and 787 are both very good aircraft, as to which we choose, it depends whether Airbus and  Boeing can convince us which is the better fit” Lee said, “but so far we have not looked into the 777X.”

Source: publico.pt

Lee said that despite Malaysia Airlines’ financial woes – the airline airline has racked up debts of $1.5 billion since 2011 – bulking up the fleet with factory-fresh aircraft would not be beyond the airline once its nationalisations is complete.

“Definitely we will have the money to buy them” Lee says. “As the national carrier we have 100% support from the Government”.

Based on the article “Malaysia Airlines eyes Airbus A350, Boeing 787 but unsure of 777X” published in Australian Business Traveller