China Eastern considering the A350-900 and 787-9 for their widebody fleet extension.

China Eastern Airlines is close to introducing new widebody aircraft to its fleet, possibly the Airbus A350-900 or Boeing B787-9, as its North American routes have turned profitable for the1st time, said chairman Liu Shaoyong.

Speaking on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association’s annual general meeting in Miami, Liu said the rise of Chinese outbound travel - which exceeded 100 million passengers for the 1st time last year - is the biggest theme reshaping Chinese airlines’ revenue mix and China Eastern’s strategy.

While mainland airlines have been aggressively expanding their international long-haul businesses, they have struggled to make money on those routes for lack of high-yield passengers to cover the high operating costs.

Liu said a combination of strong traffic, lower fuel prices and lower operating cost with the deployment of its new long-range Boeing 777-300ER has put China Eastern’s North American routes - which includes New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Hawaii, Vancouver, and Toronto - in the black so far this year.

“We have been flying international long-haul for more than 20 years. There have been profits reported in certain months by certain routes, but for the entire North America market to turn in profits, this is the first time,” he said, adding it came earlier than expected in a plan to make North America a “core profit generator” in 3 years’ time.

Source: Airbus

Liu said China Eastern is looking at next generation widebody jets to replenish its fleet after all of its 20 Boeing 777-300ER jets ordered would have arrived by 2018.

Source: José Bejarano

“We are looking closely at options and studying their compatibility with our networks...we may have a decision to announce by the end of this year or early next year,” he said.

Source: Manuel Belleli

“It is basically between the A350-900 and the B787-9,” he said, declining to indicate the size of possible orders. Liu added they are not considering the A380 double-decker at this stage.

China Eastern had in 2011 cancelled an order for 24 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, which is a smaller and shorter-ranged variant of the 787-9 that Liu said is “not suited for China Eastern’s network expansion plans”.

Source: Manuel Belleli

Liu said the investment in new widebody jets would mainly be for the airline’s international routes, which currently contributes around 35% of revenue.

He said he plans to raise that ratio to 40% by 2020, when China Eastern may have three daily flights to New York and Los Angeles.

Based on the article “China Eastern close to adding widebody aircraft to fleet” published in South China Morning Post.

A350 parts made in Portugal.

Lauak basque group chose Portugal in 2003 to expand their business because “Portugal offers a stable political situation, it has an aeronautical culture (with Ogma and TAP M&M) and a logistic situation particularly interesting” said Jean-Marc Charritton, Lauak President.

In the site at Setubal, the manufacturing and assembly of the central console (pedestral) and dashboard of the cockpit of the A350-900 & A350-1000 is completed.

Locating in Portugal has many advantages since it is an European country that has the same currency as France (where Lauak is based), which has no customs constraint, etc.

In addition, Embraer arrived in 2005 and 2 plants were opened in 2013 at Evora. A presence which, of course, offers new opportunities to local companies.

In 10 years, Lauak Portuguesa grew from a staff of 28 people with a turnover of 1.4 M€ to 262 people and a turnover of 10.2 M€.

Its progression continues with a workforce that will exceed 300 employees for a forecast turnover of 11.5 M€ in 2015.

Lauak has 2 facilities in Portugal for structural assembly and metallic parts manufacturing, including surface treatments (Tartaric Anodizing TSA), painting for both sheet metal parts and machining parts.

Based on the article “Lauak, précurseur au Portugal” published in Le Journal de L´Aviation.

If the A350 ramp-up was more aggressive ….

Airbus is benefiting from the smooth introduction of the A350-900, which entered service with Qatar Airways in January and there are now 4 aircraft in operation.

“The entry into service has been great and word is spreading that it’s living up to its all promises and more in service,” said Christopher Buckley, executive vice-president for Europe and Asia Pacific.

“The biggest obstacle with the A350 right now is that we just don’t have them fast enough,” he added, in reference to Airbus’s conservative policy on the production ramp-up.

However Airbus is working hard to secure additional business and Buckley said he’s “pretty confident that we’ll have at least 2 brand new A350 customers by the end of the year”.

Meantime, Airbus is taking advantage of its ability to offer early delivery slots to secure A330 deals as it transitions to the re-engined A330neo in 2017, but is not having to offer significant discounts to secure orders.

Based on the article “IATA: Airbus selling A330 on early availability rather than price” published inFlight International.

Spirit A350 assembly site in France currently at 4 shipsets/month rate.

After difficult beginnings with his client Airbus in Montoir, American Spirit looks to the future with serenity. The opportunity to open its doors, to show its know-how and to express themselves freely.

In an interview with Jean-Christophe Danieau, Director of Spirit France since last October, it is revealed some details concerning Montoir site where the assembly of the centre fuselage panels received by boat the panels manufactured in Kinston USA is completed.

After completing the assembly (20m. long x 6m. in diameter) , the centre fuselage subassy is delivered to Airbus.

Spirit invested 20 million euros in the assembly site in 2010. Currently, with 2 assembly lines the site has 120 employees and is considering to hire 15 additional blue-collars before end of the year. 12.000 m2 close to the site is ready for future expansion if required.

The company has delivered to Airbus, last week, his 42nd central section fuselage.

Currently the assembly rate is 4 shipments per month, it will be 5 at the end of the year, 7 by next year and 10 per month in 2017.

Based in the article “Aéronautique. Spirit gagne en confiance et s'ouvre au public” published in Ouest-France.

TAM will fly with its A350s to Miami and to Madrid in 2016.

Brazilian TAM will deploy the 1st Airbus A350-900 on a domestic route as soon as it is delivered next December.

Source: Frenchpainter

In January/2016, it will fly the aircraft domestically between São Paulo Guarulhos and Manaus.

Source: Airbus

In March 2016, TAM will begin São Paulo Guarulhos-Miami A350 flights.

In April 2016, it will start Guarulhos-Madrid A350 service.

Source: Airbus

TAM will be the 1st airline in the Americas to operate the A350 and A350 pilots are currently flying its A330s. They will go through 60 days of training on the A350, which will take place both in flight and on the ground.

Based on the article “Brazil’s TAM to fly A350 to Miami and Madrid in 2016” published in ATW

Main improvements of the A350-1000 comparing the baseline A350-900

The changes to A350-1000 compared to A350-900 are described in this figure below:

The A350-1000, while essentially a stretch of the -900, will incorporate a number of aerodynamic and structural differences – including a 6-wheel main landing-gear and a larger trailing edge.

It will also have several other enhancements including greater use of composites in the fuselage frames and pylon, and electric landing-gear doors.

The A350-1000 is building on all the knowledge and data that Airbus has gathered on the A350-900.

With this experience and knowledge, Airbus has taken the chance to go one step further in a number of areas to gain further weight and reliability advantages for A350-1000, as shown in this picture:

Primary areas of improvements are:

• Airbus is increasing the Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic content of the aircraft gaining both weight and cost advantages by means of reduced structural maintenance requirements.
•  Fuselage door surrounds and a portion of the fuselage frames were made with Titanium and Aluminium on A350-900. This will now be changed to CFRP.

• Airbus has also done some other improvements. The bilge area below the cargo floor has got a new frame support structure and the aircraft’s nose landing gear doors are now electrically instead hydraulically actuated, simplifying door installation and maintenance.
• Finally there are a number of clean ups on the electrical side with simpler solutions for the A350-1000, requiring fewer  connections, something that saves both weight and sources of future trouble.

Airbus is also working hard on increasing the cabins passenger carrying capability.

Based on the article “Airbus Innovation days: A350-1000 getting real” published in Leeham News.

Cathay 1st long-haul service with A350 to Auckland in May/2016.

With the first delivery planned for February/2016, Cathay Pacific Airways will set Auckland, New Zealand to become the first destination when A350´s long-haul operation starts in May/2016.

The initial year of A350 operation with Cathay will also see the aircraft being used to right-size its European route network, launch new long-haul thin routes while providing incremental growth opportunities for its constrained Australian operation.

Source: Airbus

From February to May/2016, Cathay plans 3 months of regional deployment for crew familiarisation and the build-up of engineering station support readiness that will see Manila, Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Singapore, Osaka Kansai, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam amongst the first cities receiving the carbon-fiber composite jet.

Source: Manuel Belleli

The A350-900 will be configured with 38 New Business Class, 28 New Premium Economy Class and 214 New Economy Class seats.

The current focus at the airline is the introduction of the A350-900 into its fleet, whose 1st full flight simulator (FFS) has been installed at the Flight Training Centre in the last week of May and the fuselage sections of its first example, MSN029, arrived at Airbus’s final assembly line (FAL) in Toulouse on 29th May.

Cathay Pacific will receive 12 A350-900 on order in 2016 and the remaining 10 in 2017, which will feature the FB2+ New Business Class seats with customization by Germany’s Porsche Design Group, improved table and personal television positions; in-flight Wi-Fi; and a new Economy tray service, before deliveries of 26 A350-1000s begin in 2018.

Based on the article “Cathay Pacific plans May/2016 long-haul debut of A350” published in Aspire Aviation