Airbus A350: World's newest airliner begins first commercial flight

[webfact]

World's newest airliner begins first commercial flight
By ABDULLAH REBHY and SCOTT MAYEROWITZ

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The world's newest jetliner, the Airbus A350, took to the skies Thursday carrying its first paying passengers from the Gulf Arab nation of Qatar.

The Qatar Airways flight departed the Qatari capital Doha bound for Frankfurt, Germany. It marks the debut of the relatively lightweight, twin-aisle, long-range plane, which promises to connect smaller cities with major aviation hubs nonstop at a cheaper cost for airlines.

For passengers, the new plane offers wider panoramic windows and larger overhead storage space plus the ability to limit connections.

The A350 is the third — and final — major new aircraft in a decade. First there was the double-decker Airbus A380, which debuted in October 2007. It's the world's largest passenger jet, designed to carry up to 525 passengers between some of the largest cities on the planet.

Then came the lightweight Boeing 787, which carried its first passengers in October 2011. Thanks to its lower operating costs, the jet, marketed by Boeing as the Dreamliner, has led to new nonstop flights between cities that previously didn't have enough passengers to merit such service.

As with the Dreamliner, the A350's lightweight design allows it to burn significantly less fuel than other jets of similar size. A little more than half of the structure is made of composite materials such as plastic reinforced by carbon fibers. Add in titanium and advanced aluminum alloys and more than 70 percent of the plane is made up of lightweight materials.

Airbus says the A350 will help open up nonstop routes like Shanghai to Boston, Massachusetts or Paris to Santiago, Chile.

The A350 can fly 276 to 369 passengers, depending on the variant and the airline's choice of seating configuration.

Qatar's version is fitted out with 36 business class seats that turn into fully flat beds and boast 17-inch TV screens, and an economy class section with 247 seats, with smaller TVs.

The state-backed airline has put considerable faith in the new model, with orders for 79 more planes. It received its first double-decker A380 from the European plane maker in September.

"The delivery of this new aircraft category into the Qatar Airways' fleet ... is a moment of absolute national pride for Qatar Airways and the state of Qatar," Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker said at an inauguration ceremony last week.

Unlike the Dreamliner, which was grounded in early 2013 for three and a half months because of problems with its lithium-ion batteries, Airbus — at this point — has decided to forego lithium-ion technology on the A350 in favor of traditional, but heavier, batteries.

So far, Boeing has secured more orders for its 787, but the program had a head start on Airbus, which was focusing on its colossal A380.

Boeing has 1,071 orders for its 787, with 228 of the jets now in service around the world. Airbus has 778 orders for the A350 from 41 different airlines and jet leasing companies including, British Airways, China Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines. The plane that flew to Frankfurt Thursday is the first of 80 such jets quickly-growing Qatar has ordered.

A larger version of the jet, which is scheduled to start flying in 2017, aims to compete with Boeing's long-range 777-300.
___

Mayerowitz reported from New York. Associated Press writer Adam Schreck in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed reporting.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-01-15

[Chicog]

I was invited on it, but they could have picked somewhere nicer than Frankfurt.

[His Masters Voice]

Some nice images http://www.airlinereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/A350-MSN4-MSN2-001.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zhExEGL8UFU/UbKcyqXQrsI/AAAAAAAAzKU/y5zUawICQrk/s1600/Airbus-A350XWB_01-Desktop_HD.jpg

[webfact]

Airbus A350 departed first commercial flight from Qatar
BY J MASLOW


Airbus A350 is set to fly

Full story: http://www.streetwisejournal.com/airbus-a350-departed-first-commercial-flight-qatar/4716/

[White Christmas13]

I was invited on it, but they could have picked somewhere nicer than Frankfurt.

What's wrong with Frankfurt don't you like Frankfurters

[Chicog]

It's cold and full of Germans.

[sweatalot]

It's cold and full of Germans.

So you prefer Thailand which is hot and full of farangs?

[Jdiddy]

Looks similar to a 787 but with a380's noisy flap actuators

Edited January 15, 2015 by Jdiddy

[F430murci]

Airbus makes some really nice aircraft. This will be beautiful plane.

[Chicog]

It's cold and full of Germans.

So you prefer Thailand which is hot and full of farangs?

"Full of farangs"?

What are those small swarthy people then?

[Thongkorn]

Airbus makes some really nice aircraft. This will be beautiful plane.

they are giving Boeing a run for there money

[F430murci]

Airbus makes some really nice aircraft. This will be beautiful plane.

they are giving Boeing a run for there money

Yes they are, no doubt about it.

[OMGImInPattaya]

After riding on the A380, these smaller planes just don't cut it for me anymore.

Nice plane and hope they sell lots of them, however.

[neverdie]

Looks similar to a 787 but with a380's noisy flap actuators

I was waiting for it to stall because of its faulty pitot tubes.

Airbus passengers are either clapping at the end of the ride because they're surprised they made it OR THEY are screaming in sheer terror whilst their pilots fight the planes computer for control.

?

[Nemesis7]

Can't wait to travel with A350

[SGD]

I was waiting for it to stall because of its faulty pitot tubes.

Airbus passengers are either clapping at the end of the ride because they're surprised they made it OR THEY are screaming in sheer terror whilst their pilots fight the planes computer for control.

?

50/50 that it'll be Boeing falling from the skies next time.

[Garry]

Some nice images http://www.airlinereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/A350-MSN4-MSN2-001.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zhExEGL8UFU/UbKcyqXQrsI/AAAAAAAAzKU/y5zUawICQrk/s1600/Airbus-A350XWB_01-Desktop_HD.jpg

I was wondering when Winglets would not look like add-ons, but part of the natural symmetry of the wing itself

[khaosai]

Looks similar to a 787 but with a380's noisy flap actuators

I was waiting for it to stall because of its faulty pitot tubes.

Airbus passengers are either clapping at the end of the ride because they're surprised they made it OR THEY are screaming in sheer terror whilst their pilots fight the planes computer for control.

?

You show a real lack of class sir.

[hhinhh]

I was invited on it, but they could have picked somewhere nicer than Frankfurt.

I bet you have never visited Frankfurt

[Chicog]

I was invited on it, but they could have picked somewhere nicer than Frankfurt.

I bet you have never visited Frankfurt

I've visited Frankfurt airport. Why, is it now warm and no Germans there?

[Chicog]

Looks similar to a 787 but with a380's noisy flap actuators

I was waiting for it to stall because of its faulty pitot tubes.

Airbus passengers are either clapping at the end of the ride because they're surprised they made it OR THEY are screaming in sheer terror whilst their pilots fight the planes computer for control.

Well at least it isn't fire prone.

[neverdie]

Looks similar to a 787 but with a380's noisy flap actuators

I was waiting for it to stall because of its faulty pitot tubes.

Airbus passengers are either clapping at the end of the ride because they're surprised they made it OR THEY are screaming in sheer terror whilst their pilots fight the planes computer for control.

Well at least it isn't fire prone.

Give it time.

[Chicog]

Meanwhile give the Screamliner a big miss.

[tartempion]

I was waiting for it to stall because of its faulty pitot tubes.

Airbus passengers are either clapping at the end of the ride because they're surprised they made it OR THEY are screaming in sheer terror whilst their pilots fight the planes computer for control.

?

Real bad taste reply from mister neverdie .

Remember the Bijlermeer disaster where a B747/200F lost two engines and hit a condominium complex?

Main cause was engine 3 pylon pin broke off due to metal fatigue.

We had all our B747/200F inspected and my boss kept one of the replaced pins on his desk.

[neverdie]

I was waiting for it to stall because of its faulty pitot tubes.

Airbus passengers are either clapping at the end of the ride because they're surprised they made it OR THEY are screaming in sheer terror whilst their pilots fight the planes computer for control.

?

Real bad taste reply from mister neverdie .

Remember the Bijlermeer disaster where a B747/200F lost two engines and hit a condominium complex?

Main cause was engine 3 pylon pin broke off due to metal fatigue.

We had all our B747/200F inspected and my boss kept one of the replaced pins on his desk.

This isn't a thread about one of the disasters, so hardly a comment in bad taste.

There has been a number of faulty pitot situations develop in recent years with Airbus a/c & I have long written about the risks of increased Automation on modern a/c, something which Airbus has taken to as completely new level imo.

I'm not Boeing one eyed either, as clearly there has been numerous issues with their ac too.

There's almost twice as many Boeing that have rolled off the various production lines in the last 40 years comp to Airbus.

[EyesWideOpen]

Nice looking copy of a 787 Dreamliner.......... Interesting to see Airbus

quietly moving away from the A380, a failed concept.

Edited January 17, 2015 by EyesWideOpen

[colinneil]

Why are there so many cynical people on TV.?

A350 modern airplane equaly as good if not better than any boeing plane.

If it is not American its rubbish some people think.

Remember Concord? because it was not American, it took years before the yanks allowed it to fly to America.

No American airline would order it.

Now Airbus is giving Boeing a run for there money Yanks are not happy.

[Chicog]

Nice looking copy of a 787 Dreamliner.......... Interesting to see Airbus

quietly moving away from the A380, a failed concept.

I guess it will all come down to the bean counters.

I tried to get on Qatar's A380 from BKK last week and it was completely full in all classes.

[EyesWideOpen]

Nice looking copy of a 787 Dreamliner.......... Interesting to see Airbus

quietly moving away from the A380, a failed concept.

I guess it will all come down to the bean counters.

I tried to get on Qatar's A380 from BKK last week and it was completely full in all classes.

It already has..... :-) The A350 is simply hitting the same sweet spot in the market

that Boeing planned for with its 787. Meaning a jet that can service long haul routes as

well as being efficient for the smaller markets..

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-10/airbus-at-crossroads-as-a380-jumbo-faces-spend-or-fade-conundrum.html

Airbus Group NV (AIR) raised the prospect of discontinuing its A380 superjumbo as soon as 2018, the first admission that it may have misjudged the market for the double-decker after failing to find a single airline buyer this year.

"

Edited January 17, 2015 by EyesWideOpen

[NeverSure]

Meanwhile give the Screamliner a big miss.

The planes compared

Airbus A380

Orders: 259

Deliveries: 119

Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Orders: 1012

Deliveries: 103

http://www.theguardian.com/

Edited January 17, 2015 by NeverSure