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AIRBUS A340-500 SERIES
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| United Signs Firm Order for 25 A350 XWB aircraft |
Airline becomes 33rd customer for newest Airbus model
United has formalized a commitment originally announced in December 2009, signing a firm order for 25 A350-900 XWB aircraft, the newest twin-engine widebody from Airbus. The aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. Deliveries of the aircraft will begin in 2016 and run through 2019.
"This is the latest chapter in a very strong relationship that has spanned two decades," said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer - Customers. "From the delivery of the first United A320 in November 1993 to today, Airbus and United have worked together successfully to weather challenging market periods. It's a true testament to what the A350 XWB has to offer that one of the largest airlines in the world has selected it to be an instrumental part of their future."
"With this order we are investing in United's future, gaining a widebody aircraft that will help us reduce operating costs while still providing state-of-the-art comfort to our customers," said John Tague, President of United Airlines. "The A350 XWB will also help us reduce fuel burn and our overall environmental footprint in comparison to older technology aircraft."
Mark King, President - Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, added: "This represents a significant endorsement of our Trent XWB technology and its operational advantage. We are delighted that United Airlines has put its trust in the long-term performance advantages of Trent technology and TotalCare®."
The A350 XWB is a new family of mid-size widebody airliners. The highly efficient aircraft brings together the latest in aerodynamics, design and advanced technologies to provide a 25-percent step-change in fuel efficiency compared to current aircraft in the same size category. The A350 XWB airframe will have 53 percent composite materials, lightening the weight thereby maximizing fuel economy. Featuring an entirely new, very quiet, cabin with extra space and comfort, passengers will enjoy more headroom, wide panoramic windows and more overhead storage area.
The three passenger versions have true long-range capability and flexibility. The A350-800 will fly 270 passengers in a three-class configuration 8300 nautical miles. The 314-seat A350-900 and 350-seat A350-1000 will offer similar long-range performance.
The order book for the aircraft type now stands at 530 aircraft. Final assembly of the first aircraft is anticipated in 2011, with the first delivery (of an A350-900) scheduled for 2013. |
| Airbus Foundation Coordinates Chile Relief in TAM A319 Ferry Flight |
Humanitarian supplies collected by the Red Cross and General Consulate of Chile in Hamburg lands in Chile at 10:30 p.m., March 9; LAN Airlines facilitates local logistics in Santiago
In response to the devastating earthquake that struck Chile February 27, Airbus coordinated with Brazilian-based TAM Airlines and Chilean-based LAN Airlines to send three tons of aid to Santiago. The TAM A319 ferry flight filled with humanitarian supplies landed in Sao Paulo on March 9. TAM then transferred the aid to a Santiago-bound A320 flight.
Over the weekend, an Airbus team in Hamburg loaded TAM's A319 ferry flight with hygienic supplies, blankets and plastic water canisters (for storing and transporting fresh water) collected by the Red Cross and General Consulate of Chile in Hamburg.
Tom Enders, President of the Airbus Foundation and President and CEO of Airbus, said: "The Airbus Foundation together with TAM Airlines identified an opportunity to send humanitarian aid to Chile aboard a TAM Airlines A319 ferry flight this week to support the international relief effort. Many people came together in record time to make this work, including TAM Airlines, which agreed to have their A319 ferry flight filled with humanitarian aid and then transfer it to Santiago; the Red Cross and General Consulate of Chile in Hamburg, which collected tons of vital relief supplies; and LAN Airlines, which agreed to accept goods in Santiago's International Airport and coordinate necessary logistical requirements. I thank all our partners, our friends and the employees involved for their excellent cooperation."
In recent years, Airbus has built up a global network of airlines and relief organizations to support international humanitarian help. Ferry flights of new aircraft have been used on numerous occasions to transport goods all over the world.
A leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive product line on the market, Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK and Spain, as well as subsidiaries in the U.S., China, Japan and Middle East. |
| Hawaiian orders one more A330-200 for long-haul operation |
Adds eco-efficiency to the fleet
Hawaiian Airlines, which becomes a new Airbus operator this spring, has placed a firm order for an additional A330-200 aircraft. The purchase joins an existing Hawaiian order for six A330-200s and six A350 XWB-800s from Airbus, as well as three leased A330s that will be operated by the airline.
The newly ordered aircraft will be delivered in 2011 and will transport 294 passengers in a comfortable two-class configuration. All of the A330 aircraft operated by the airline will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent engines.
"We are delighted by the additional vote of confidence from Hawaiian, which has chosen Airbus aircraft for its long-range fleet expansion," said John Leahy, Airbus' Chief Operating Officer - Customers. "The A330 offers unrivaled fuel efficiency as well as passenger comfort, while also producing very low emissions and noise. I'm confident that Hawaiian's passengers and employees will come to love this aircraft."
With a true wide-body fuselage creating very high comfort standards, the A330-200 is able to accommodate seat and class configurations to suit diverse customer requirements. Its large under-floor cargo holds can also carry standard pallets and containers side-by-side. It also has the excellent operational flexibility necessary to serve a wide range of route structures, providing operators with very low operating cost per seat.
The twin engine A330 is one of the most widely used wide body aircraft in service today. To date, Airbus has won more than 1,000 orders for the various versions of the aircraft. More than 600 A330s have already been delivered and the aircraft is currently flying with over 80 airlines worldwide. |
| Airbus to increase A320 Family production rate |
2010 total deliveries to match previous year's record level
Airbus will increase the monthly production rate for its single-aisle A320 Family from the current rate of 34 to 36, starting December 2010. The production rate for the long-range A330/A340 Family will be maintained at the current level of eight per month.
Airbus' decision to raise its single-aisle production rate is driven by the continuing demand for its eco-efficient aircraft and a record backlog in excess of some 2,300 A320 Family aircraft.
"Leading economic indices and business confidence indicators are showing an upward trend again. We see this reflected in the continuing solid demand for our eco-efficient products and our robust backlog. Thanks to our proactive order book management we have been able to keep production stable during the year of the downturn, but now it is definitely time to think ahead," said Tom Williams, Executive Vice President, Programmes. "Aviation is a long-term growth industry. With our prudent decision we will be ready when the market recovers."
Airbus delivered a total of 498 aircraft in 2009, including 402 A320 Family aircraft, both new company records for a single year. The company target for deliveries in 2010 is to remain at a similar level to 2009.
The A320 Family, which includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321, is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. More than 6,500 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been sold and nearly 4200 delivered to more than 300 customers and operators worldwide, making it the world's best selling commercial jetliner ever |
| Airbus A380 flies the flag for the International Year of Biodiversity 2010 |
Leading aircraft manufacturer Airbus is showing support for the United Nations International Year of Biodiversity by featuring the official logo on its largest passenger aircraft - the A380.
In addition to pioneering greener flight, to which the flagship A380 pays testimony, Airbus is using its global outreach to back the UN Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD) Green Wave initiative, designed to educate young people about the importance of biodiversity, its role in their future and the steps they can take to nurture the nature around them.
Rainer Ohler, SVP Public Affairs & Communications said: "The aviation sector remains committed to tackling the two percent it contributes to manmade carbon dioxide emissions, having already reduced aircraft emissions by 70 per cent and noise by 75 per cent in the last 40 years. However, as a global company, Airbus is also committed to using its global outreach to support those tackling the other 98 per cent of emissions. Both commitments are key to a more sustainable world, where growth in air travel need not be inconsistent with preserving the environment. This is why Airbus is supporting the CBD and backing the Green Wave, to make this global campaign as far reaching as possible."
The A380 will carry the logo throughout 2010 during its scheduled activities. Developed as the most efficient airliner ever conceived, the A380 symbolises the aviation industry's determination to balance growth in air travel with a commitment to minimise its carbon footprint. The A380 has set a new benchmark for fuel consumption at less than three litres per 100 seat kilometres (km), corresponding to less than 75g of CO2 per passenger per km.
Notes to editors
Photo caption (images supplied): An Airbus A380 carries the logo of the International Year of Biodiversity 2010. The aircraft manufacturer is working in partnership with the UN Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to build awareness of the importance of biodiversity through the CBD's Green Wave initiative.
About The Green Wave and the International Year of Biodiversity
- The Green Wave is a global biodiversity campaign to educate children and youth about life on Earth, coordinated by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
- As part of The Green Wave initiative, each year on the International Day of Biodiversity, 22 May, young people globally are invited to plant a tree at 10.00 a.m. local time to celebrate biodiversity. This creates a 'green wave' as the activity passes through each time zone. Photos and stories from the moment are uploaded by participants to greenwave.cbd.int to create a virtual wave.
- The United Nations General Assembly designated 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity to bring greater international attention to the issue of the continued loss of biodiversity. The CBD Secretariat is designated to serve as the focal point for the observance of the IYB. Visit www.cbd.int/2010.
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| Heathrow and Singapore Airlines launch fuel saving |
Departure procedure for Airbus A380
Heathrow, NATS*, Singapore Airlines and Airbus have launched an improved departure procedure for the Airbus A380, saving even more fuel, emitting even less CO2 and remaining within the airport's strict noise procedures. This new procedure saves an additional 300kg of fuel per flight, equating to one metric tonne of emissions of CO2 on a flight to Singapore, as well as reducing NOx emissions.
The companies worked together over the last year to develop the new airline procedure, which has been put into place immediately. A380s departing Heathrow now use less power when taking off, saving fuel and reducing NOx emissions. Once a height of 1,500 feet has been reached, the aircraft uses flexible acceleration up to 4,000 feet, before continuing its journey.
"The A380 represents the most significant step forward in reducing aircraft fuel burn and resultant emissions in four decades whilst offering greater comfort on board," said Tom Williams, Executive Vice President Programmes, Airbus. "In fact, the A380 consumes less than three litres of fuel per passenger per 100 km."
The A380 is also significantly quieter than other large aircraft. It produces half the noise energy at takeoff and cuts the area exposed to equivalent noise levels around the airport runway by half. At landing the A380 is producing three to four times less noise energy, contributing significantly to reduce the noise impact whilst enabling the airline to carry more passengers per flight.
Jane Dawes, Operational Noise and Air Quality Manager from Heathrow said, "The Airbus A380 is already the most fuel efficient aircraft in commercial service, burning 17 per cent less fuel per passenger than other large aircraft. By 2020 one in ten flights at Heathrow could use A380s. It is important that we work constantly with our airlines to improve operating processes, and the introduction of these new departure procedures demonstrates our commitment to reducing emissions."
Said Captain Gerard Yeap, Senior Vice President Flight Operations, Singapore Airlines, "Our cooperation with Heathrow, NATS and Airbus goes to show what can be achieved when stakeholders share the same goal of reducing carbon emissions and fuel burn. Singapore Airlines is committed to playing its part in ensuring greener skies and sustainable air travel, and we hope this partnership will serve as a model for airport operators and governments elsewhere in the world."
Notes to Editors:
CO2 and fuel benefit is mostly coming from the new sequence of actions, i.e. early acceleration at 1,500 ft with green-dot up to 4,000 ft. Green dot being approximately the best lift to drag ratio speed, it provides in general the lowest fuel consumption up to 4,000 ft.
NOx benefit is coming from switching from TOGA to FLEX procedures. TOGA procedure is a procedure where the thrust lever is on the "Take-off Go-Around" position, meaning full thrust is used.. A FLEX procedure is when the thrust lever is on the "MCT/FLEX" position for take-off, meaning the thrust is adapted (reduced) to the actual aircraft take-off weight, in order to decrease engine stress and increase its under-wing life.
Singapore Airlines has now adopted optimum FLEX and early acceleration at 1,500 ft with green dot up to 4,000 ft as the current departure procedure.
* NATS provides air traffic control services to aircraft flying in UK airspace, and over the eastern part of the North Atlantic
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| Didier Lux nominated as new Head of Customer Services |
Pilar Albiac Murillo becomes new Head of Quality and Lean Improvement
Didier Lux has been appointed as Executive Vice President (EVP) Customer Services and will take up this position on 1st April 2010. Lux is currently EVP Quality and will succeed Charles Champion who has recently been chosen as EVP Engineering.
Didier Lux joined Airbus in 2004 as Head of Quality, and in September 2005 he was appointed EVP Quality. Lux began his career as a Flight Test Engineer at the French DGAC before joining Air Inter (the French domestic airline) where he held different positions in operations and maintenance. After the Air France/Air Inter merger he became Vice President Maintenance of Air France. In 2003 and until mid 2004 he worked for the French Railway Operator SNCF as Deputy Vice President Engineering and Maintenance. Didier Lux, 55, is married with two children. He is a graduate of the French "Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile."
Meanwhile, Pilar Albiac Murillo will succeed Didier Lux as Head of Quality and Lean Improvement. Prior to her arrival at Airbus in January 2008 as Head of Lean Manufacturing Deployment, Pilar has held numerous senior positions in large international manufacturing organisations. These include General Motors, where, among her numerous accomplishments, she oversaw the implementation of Lean Manufacture and Six-Sigma principles. Pilar holds a Masters Degree in Science of Administration from the Central Michigan University.
"I am convinced that these newly appointed executives have the right background and skills to be successful," said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO. "Didier's long standing experience in Quality brings additional value to Airbus' Customer Services, while Pilar will build upon her proven leadership in enhancing Lean approaches at Airbus. Together these appointments form the best foundation to further enhance all aspects of Quality across our organisation." |
| Spanish students gain insight into Airbus |
Aeronautical Industry opens its doors to young students of Spain
Leading European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus welcome over 50 Spanish students to visit its headquarters and final assembly lines in Toulouse, South of France as part of its commitment to establish relations with the future international engineering generations. The visiting students, mainly made up of those studying aeronautical engineering at the Universidad Politecnica de Catalunya in Terrassa in Northern Spain, will spend a day at Airbus where they will meet industry experts, be given tailored presentations on Airbus products and have a guided tour of the company's A380 and A330/A340 Final Assembly Lines.
The Spanish students belong to The European Association of Aerospace Students, EUROAVIA, an association which aims to stimulate contacts between students and the aerospace industry. "With over 80 different nationalities working at Airbus sites across the world, Airbus is a living example of how successful an international company with cross-cultural diversity can be," says Thomas Ehm, Head of Employment, Training and Competence management at Airbus. "As an expanding company in a highly innovative industry, it is important to support young engineers and establish strong links with universities and dynamic young people who may well go on to become innovative employees of tomorrow" he added.
"We are delighted that Airbus is committed to this initiative of stimulating contacts between students and industry, says, Jordi Barrera, President of EUROAVIA Terrassa (Catalunya). This visit meets EUROAVIA's aims to allow students from all over the world to share views and ideas with industry experts. We look forward to further increasing such collaboration and also to continue these visits."
With an international workforce of around 52,000, Airbus as an increasingly successful company has an ever-greater need to build in its dedicated and highly skilled workforce across a wide range of fields and specialisations. Airbus is currently looking for some 1500 employees around the world, 700 of which are engineers.
Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is a leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive family of airliners on the market, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. Airbus is present all around the world with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain as well as subsidiaries in the U.S., China, Japan and in the Middle East.
To find out about career opportunities with Airbus: www.airbus.com/en/careers/vacancies |
| First A330 joins Sichuan Airlines' all-Airbus fleet |
Airline to take full benefit of Airbus commonality
Airbus today delivered to Sichuan Airlines the very first widebody aircraft, an A330-200, to add capacity to its existing all-Airbus Single Aisle fleet. The A330 is the first of three brand new Airbus A330-200s that Sichuan Airlines has leased from the Netherland’s-based AerCap Aviation Solutions.
While expanding its regional and international network, Sichuan Airlines intends to compete on high density routes with the most modern and cost-effective widebody aircraft on the market. The fleet of A330s will be deployed on domestic trunk routes from the airline’s home base of Chengdu to major cities such as Beijing and Shenzhen; on regional routes within Asia and on international long haul routes from Chengdu to Europe. The A330s will be configured in a comfortable two-class lay-out with 36 first class and 209 economy seats.
This delivery comes as a key milestone for Sichuan Airlines after successfully operating A320 Family aircraft for the last 15 years. Airbus aircraft share a unique cockpit and operational commonality, allowing airlines to use the same pool of pilots, cabin crews and maintenance engineers, bringing operational flexibility and resulting in significant cost savings. Today, Sichuan Airlines operates 44 Airbus A320 Family aircraft (13 A319s, 21 A320s, 10 A321s).
"In the past decades, Sichuan Airlines has evolved from a regional airline to a national airline connecting Chengdu to all provinces across China as well as more than 20 popular tourist destinations. The reliable and efficient Airbus Single-Aisle aircraft were decisive in this success. It was then a natural choice for us to select the A330s to help us to become one of the top five Chinese airlines," said Mr. Lan Xinguo, Chairman of Sichuan Airlines.
"We are delighted to support the rapid expansion of our old friends at Sichuan Airlines. We believe the low operating cost and excellent cabin comfort of the A330s will be key ingredients for the airline's continuing success," said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers.
During its long standing relationship with Airbus, Sichuan Airlines has recorded a number of premieres in China. The airline was the first to introduce a fly-by-wire aircraft, an A320 in 1995, the first to operate an A321 and is flying the first A320 assembled at FALC in Tianjin. In order to operate the newly built A330 fleet in a more efficient and cost-effective way, Sichuan Airlines was also the first Chinese airline to sign for the Airbus Flight Hour Services (FHS), a customized service with strong support from Airbus’ worldwide customer services system.
The twin engine A330 is one of the most widely used wide body aircraft in service today. To date, Airbus has won more than 1,000 orders for the various versions of the aircraft. More than 600 A330s have already been delivered and the aircraft is currently flying with over 80 airlines worldwide. |
| Hong Kong Airlines to order six A330-200s |
Hong Kong Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus for six A330-200 aircraft. The latest commitment will increase the number of A330s ordered by the airline to 23. Hong Kong Airlines intends to use the A330-200s to develop new services to destinations across the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to the Middle East and Europe.
"The A330-200 offers the perfect range and size capability to enable us to expand into new medium and long haul markets," said Yang Jian Hong, President, Hong Kong Airlines. "With these aircraft in our fleet we are aiming to create new standards in comfort and service and to establish our company as a premium brand in new international markets."
"This latest commitment from Hong Kong Airlines underscores once again the popularity of the A330 as the right aircraft right now for quality airlines across the world," said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. "The A330 remains the most efficient aircraft in its size category flying today, providing airlines with the ability to maximise profit potential on a wide range of operations."
Established in 2006, Hong Kong Airlines currently operates a full service network linking Hong Kong with destinations in mainland China and the Asian region. In addition to A330s, the carrier also has 30 single aisle A320 aircraft on firm order for future delivery.
The A330 is one of the most widely used widebody aircraft in service today. To date, Airbus has won more than 1,050 orders for the various versions of the aircraft. More than 660 A330s have already been delivered and the aircraft is currently flying with over 70 airlines worldwide. |
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