Cathay Pacific A350 interior configuration with seats customized by Porsche.

The 280-seat A350-900s of Cathay Pacific will be configured with 38 FB2+ New Business Class seats customised by Germany’s Porsche Design Group and based on a new-generation Cirrus seat by Zodiac Aerospace, which will feature incremental upgrades on the existing award-winning Business Class design such as improved table and personal television positions, whereas the existing Business Class seats will receive a mid-life refresh.

Source: Airbus

The A350 will also come with 28 and 214 New Premium Economy Class and New Economy Class seats, respectively, of which Cathay Pacific general manager Toby Smith remarked on the New Economy Class seat design, “No shell seats”.

Cathay Pacific will debut inflight Wi-Fi on the flagship A350-900 as well, doing some trials on its pricing model, despite it is not yet reassured by the technology and it cannot be switched on while in the Chinese airspace at the moment.

A new Economy meal tray will also be introduced aboard the A350, Smith said.

Based on the article “Cathay Pacific begins the next chapter of growth” published in Aspire Aviation

Airbus CEO F.Brégier : "With two A350 in service, no news is good news"

In an interview to Airbus CEO Fabrice Brégier at Les Echos, when asked about the A350, Fabrice Brégier said that "after 2 months of operations and 2 aircraft in service, having no bad news is good news."

Source: Airbus

This proves that the A350 is a well-born aircraft. I am also confident about our ability to meet our objectives of the production ramp-up.

It's a challenge, but we should be able to deliver 15 A350 in 2015 and then go up to 10 aircraft per month in 2018."



Based on the article "Fabrice Brégier : « Il faut retrouver l’esprit des grands projets »" published in Les Echos.

A350 Europe-Tour by Finnair in October/2015. Booking opened.

Finnair will make short haul familiarization flights all around Europe in October before starting their Long-Haul operation in Asia.

A350 First flights will be domestic flights on 5/October: from Helsinki to Oulu and to Rovaniemi.

And starting on 6/October, London Heathrow and Paris CDG.

In Germany there will be many alternatives to flight in the A350 from Helsinki to Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin Tegel, Munich and Dusseldorf.

Other European flights will join Helsinki with Brussels, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Oslo, Gothenburg and Barcelona.

Source: Clement Alloing

These are the flight numbers and dates published by Finnair:
 

05/Oct Helsinki – Oulu AY369
05/Oct Helsinki – Rovaniemi AY421/428

06/Oct Helsinki – London Heathrow AY831. A350 also operates AY995/996 from 15OCT15 to 15NOV15 on daily basis (except certain dates in Oct 2015)
07/Oct Helsinki – Frankfurt AY821/822 on 07OCT15, 19OCT15, 22OCT15, 09NOV15, 12NOV15,16NOV15
07/Oct Helsinki – Stockholm AY645/650
08/Oct Helsinki – Copenhagen AY667/668. A350 also operates on 18OCT15
08/Oct Helsinki – Paris CDG AY871
09/Oct Helsinki – Amsterdam AY841/842
09/Oct Helsinki – Oslo AY659/660
10/Oct Helsinki – Barcelona AY3271/3270 on 10OCT15, 17OCT15, 24OCT15; AY3269/3272 on 11OCT15, 18OCT15
11/Oct Helsinki – Hamburg AY851/852
12/Oct Helsinki – Brussels AY811/812 Service on 12OCT15, 16OCT15, 20OCT15, 21OCT15,06NOV15, 10NOV15, 13NOV15, 17NOV15, 20NOV15, and Day 34 from 03FEB16
13/Oct Helsinki – Berlin Tegel AY911/912
13/Oct Helsinki – Gothenburg AY677/674
14/Oct Helsinki – Dusseldorf AY703/704
15/Oct Helsinki – Munich AY803/804

And the Long-Haul Operation will start on 25/October with a daily service from Helsinki to Shanghai Pu Dong.

And after that, Beijing, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore:

eff 21NOV15 Helsinki – Beijing 1 daily
eff 01DEC15 Helsinki – Bangkok AY089/090 1 daily (Except selected dates in December)
eff 01FEB16 Helsinki – Hong Kong 1 daily
eff 28MAR16 Helsinki – Singapore Initially 4 of 7 weekly

Delivery from Premium Aerotec of the Composite Door-Frame for A350-1000.

Premium Aerotec has delivered the first door-frame made of  carbon fiber composite material (CFRP) for the A350-1000.

Compared to the conventional door-frame made of metal, the new composite door-frames save weight and costs. 

The production of the door-frame structure involved approximately 65 employees in the site of Varel in Premium Aerotec. 

The CFRP portion of the door-frame is 85%, whith titanium and aluminium detail parts for remaining 15%.

"We are pleased, that the door-frame is delivered on time and on quality. This door frame was developed in a completely new technology, a special challenge for all involved", said Gerd Weber, site manager of Premium Aerotec in Varel, at a ceremony. Also the staff of the Varel site attended the event jointly with representatives of Airbus as a customer.

Oliver Theilken, head of the door-frame installation in Varel highlighted also the excellent performance of his team and the good cooperation with the other involved areas: "the all-new design was a challenging task. But we succeeded to develop a viable industrial concept, thanks to the relevant expertise that is established on the site of Varel."

After it´s delivery, the 7 door-frames will be installed at Premium Aerotec in Nordenham on the fuselage section 13/14.



Based on the press release "Premium AEROTEC liefert ersten aus CFK gefertigten Türrahmen für A350-1000 aus"

FACC starts series deliveries to Rolls-Royce for A350 engine components

The FACC AG has reached an important milestone in their participation in the Trent XWB engine family of Rolls-Royce: the Austrian aviation supplier started the series production of innovative cladding components in the fan housing of the Trent XWB engine.

"I would like to thank for this outstanding team performance. Everyone worked superbly and with a high focus on the project. Concerning the forthcoming production ramp-up, I can be very confident", said Chris Cholerton, Rolls Royce EVP fans & compressors.

The start of series production of the Trent XWB engine composites components represents the successful completion of the multi-year development participation of FACC in the promising engine program.

"The schedule of the project was challenging. The timely start of series production of engine components for the Trent XWB program is an important step for FACC and underlines our desire to generate high added value for the program", said Walter Stephan, Chairman of FACC AG.

"In the year 2017 will have reached full production rate”.

Source: publico.pt

The Rolls-Royce engine composites order package includes four different engine components: 

The fan track liner panels in the fan housing, which 3 major functions are to make them a contact seal the engine blades, prevent turbulence and thus significantly improve the performance of the engine.

Secondly, they absorb the energy of ice beating up and hail. Also, the high-strength carbon assume an important role in the containment of damage in the case of a theoretical blade fracture parts. 

The acoustic is sound-absorbing trim liners. The use of composite technology helps achieving a significant noise reduction with only minimal extra weight and high strength.

 

In addition, FACC manufactures strut fairings and drainage panels.

Based on the press release “FACC startet Serienfertigung von Trent XWB Triebwerkskomponenten”

Low possibilities for A350 in Oman Air fleet expansion.

Oman Air is pursuing ambitious fleet expansion and simplification as part of a plan to double its fleet and add more than 25 new destinations over the next 6 years.

Source: Jorge Guardia

The flag carrier has decided to phase out ATR turboprops and Embraer regional jets as it seeks to operate 2 or – at most – 3 aircraft types.

Oman Air plans to operate 25 widebody aircraft by the end of 2020 compared to 10 A330s currently and only 7 A330s six months ago.

Source: Airbus

It is now committed to acquiring 8 787s and is considering ordering more 787s and A330neos.

Mr Gregorowitsch said Oman Air will look at placing more 787 orders and will evaluate the A330neo as it reviews its options for reaching it target of 25 widebody aircraft.

Source: Airbus

One option to be considered will be transitioning the widebody fleet to an all 787-operation.

Oman Air is attracted to the synergies and benefits which would come with operating a simplified fleet consisting of only two families – the 737 and 787.

7 of Oman Air’s A330s are slightly older aircraft (between 4 and 6 years) and are expected to be replaced over the next few years.

Keeping only the 3 A330s which were delivered in late 2014 would not make sense although it is not likely these aircraft will be replaced until early next decade even if a decision is made to transition to an all-787 widebody fleet.

Oman Air will also consider maintaining 2 widebody types of aircraft and 3 types overall.

Under this scenario Oman Air will most likely end up with 787s, A330s and A330neos.

Source: Airbus

It plans to evaluate the A330neo but is not expected to give much consideration to the A350.

Oman Air is currently the 7th largest airline in the Middle East based on widebody fleet size.

Based on the article “Oman Air plans ambitious fleet expansion as 787s & 737s are acquired while ATRs & Embraers are axed“ published in CAPA

Every new A350 will create approx. 200 jobs at Finnair.

According to Finnair CEO Pekka Vauramo in the company’s Annual General Meeting, Finnair's fleet renewal plays a key role in the company's new phase.

Source: Airbus

In the 2^nd half of this year, Finnair will be the first European airline to operate the next-generation Airbus A350 XWB aircraft.

“The first long-haul operation with the new aircraft is at the end of October, and Shanghai, Beijing and Bangkok are the first destinations,” Vauramo said.

“On these Asian routes we get the most out of our new aircraft. The new aircraft will improve our product, decrease costs and also decrease our CO2 emissions.”

“As the fleet investment program proceeds, our long-haul will start to grow in 2016.

We seek growth in traffic and in revenue with these aircraft.

As we are now more cost-effective, thanks to our structural changes, I believe we have a strong foundation to produce results with the new fleet,”Vauramo estimated.

“Growth also creates jobs. Every new Airbus A350 XWB aircraft that grows our fleet will create approximately 200 jobs at Finnair.

Half of this is flying personnel, and the other half is in other functions,” Vauramo stressed. 

“Increasing the fleet size by 5 long-haul aircraft will create approximately 1000 jobs in Finnair in the next 5 years.”

Based on the article “Finnair CEO Pekka Vauramo at the AGM: 2015 marks a new phase for Finnair” published in Travel Daily News