A350 ultra-long-range version under analysis

Leeham News believes that Airbus is close to launching an “A350-900LR” (Ultra-Long Range) in response to talks with Singapore Airlines for a longer-range airplane.

Source: Oliver Louis

As stated in the article, Singapore Airlines (70 A350s on order) is in talks with Airbus and Boeing about an Ultra-Long Haul airplane that can fly from Singapore to the US non-stop.

“We, of course, want it as soon as possible,” Singapore Air CEO Goh Choon Phong said.

Source: Lindner Fotografie

Singapore discontinued the flights to Los Angeles (7,560nm) and Newark (9,020nm) when rising fuel prices made operation of the Airbus A340-500 used on the trips uneconomic.

The Airbus A350-900 has a range of 7,900nm when transporting the same 301 passengers as 777-200LR. Boeing’s forthcoming 777-8X has a planned range of 9,300nm but it’s entry-into-service isn’t planned until around 2022.

With the 777-8X at least 7 years into the future, and with 70 aircraft order for the A350-900, Singapore’s only modern choice for an Ultra-Long Haul airplane would be an improved version of the A350-900.

Airbus could achieve the performance required increasing the Max Take-Off Weight of the A350-900 from 268t to 280t.

This would allow an additional 12 tonnes of fuel to be tanked and this could extend the range to 8,600nm thereby reducing 22% fuel consumption respect 777-200LR.

The increase of Max Take-Off Weight of A350-900 is possible as the extra weight is fuel and this goes into the wings, where it sits close to the lift, thereby causing a minimal increase of loads into the wing and fuselage of the A350.

Airbus has seen that there are structural margins in the A350 design, so likely improvements would be constrained to local beefing up of things like brakes to achieve an “A350-900LR.”

One other area Airbus would also be looking to change would be the tank size of A350-900. With its standard 138.000 liters it would be on the limit for a 8,600nm mission and with any cabin with less seats or lower load-factor than 100% the aircraft would be fuel limited.

Airbus could include the larger wing tank area from A350-1000 in a “A350-900LR” design. With its 156,000 liters it would give plenty of room for the necessary fuel for Singapore Airlines long range US missions.

Based on the article “Airbus in talks with Singapore for ultra-long range airplane; “A350-900LR” likely” published in Leeham News

A350 Americas Tour phase1: Brazil and Colombia. Video

The A350 XWB flight test prototype MSN2 has completed the 1st phase of the aircraft’s Americas Demo Tour.

Click the picture to watch the video.

Sao Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport, Campinas and Bogota in Colombia have been the major airports in Latin America selected for this Demo Tour.

Source: Airbus

Senior Airline representatives from TAM, the A350 XWB’s launch customer in the Americas, as well as personnel from other Latin American airlines, government officials and media, boarded MSN 2 for a static display and demonstration flight over Sao Paulo. 

Source: Marino

LATAM Airlines Group, made up of LAN Airlines and TAM Airlines, has ordered 27 A350-900. 

Source: Airbus

Synergy Aerospace, Avianca’s main shareholder and owner of Avianca Brasil, has ordered 10 A350 XWB.

Source: Marino

Azul Linhas Aereas is based in Campinas, Brazil and it's CEO joined the visit to the A350. 

Source: Marino

MSN2 aircraft visited on 9/July for the first time Colombia. Bogota airport.

Source: Airbus

The A350 made a low pass over Medellín airport on 10/July on it's way to Atlanta.

The reason behind the bandit mask of the A350

The reason for the bandit mask has intrigued airline enthusiasts for years.

Source: Airbus

Is it a marketing thing? Does the A350 look funny without it and Airbus decided a makeup was needed?

Source: Manuel Belleli

Bjorn Fehrm from Leeham News got “a plausible explanation the other day.”

The mask is there to facilitate change of cockpit windows.

The windows go in from the outside and one has to detach the window surrounds to do it.

To avoid having to paint with delicate airline livery colors the window surrounds come in “any color you want as long as it is black.”

Based on the article “Bjorn’s Corner: Bandit mask explained and nonexistent IFE boxes.” Published in Leeham News

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.