Singapore Airlines has signed a contract for the purchase of 20 A350-900 XWBs to meet its requirements on medium to long-range routes across the Asia-Pacific region from 2013 onwards. This order, which firms up the Letter of Intent placed in July 2006, represents another major commitment to the expansion of the airline’s Airbus fleet, which is already destined to include 19 A380s and 19 A330s.
The A350 XWB (extra wide-body) is Airbus’ response to market demand for a medium capacity long range wide-body family. Available from 2013, it will have an entirely new, uncompromised, 21st Century design with a new and wider fuselage for extra space and passenger comfort. It will also be extra efficient, extra environmentally friendly and quiet, as it will feature all the advanced technologies available in the first part of the 21st Century, bringing the A380 experience to a new level.
The all-new A350 XWB will offer Singapore Airlines unrivalled operating performance and economics, whilst passengers will enjoy outstanding comfort and amenities in a highly advanced and spacious cabin environment.
“We are very proud to have Singapore Airlines as a very early customer for the all new A350 XWB, particularly since it follows the announcement for nine additional A380 orders and 19 A330 leases. As one of the undisputed leaders of the global air transport industry, Singapore Airlines sets the most demanding standards to ensure that its aircraft combine outstanding passenger appeal, unbeatable efficiency and exceptional environmental friendliness. This makes it all the more gratifying for the A350 XWB to have been selected to meet the airline’s requirement for future fleet growth and global network expansion,” said Louis Gallois, President and CEO, Airbus.
Conceived from the outset to become a comprehensive airliner Family, the A350 XWB will be available in three basic passenger versions, the A350-800 which can fly 270 passengers in a spacious three-class configuration up to 8,500 nm / 15,750 km, the A350-900 seating 314, and the A350-1000 which is designed for 350, both with ranges of up to 8,300nm / 15,400 km. The exact seating configuration for Singapore Airlines’ A350-900 XWBs will be announced by the airline at a later date.
With a cross section of 232 inches / 5.9 meters, the A350 XWB will benefit from the widest fuselage in its category, offering unprecedented levels of comfort in this market segment. It will also offer the lowest operating costs and lowest seat mile cost of any aircraft in that category. The Family is designed to confront the challenges of high fuel prices, rising passenger expectations, and environmental concerns in that market segment.
Photo: Airbus S.A.S. 2006 ©
