Asiana Airlines orders 30 Airbus A350 aircraft

Asiana Airlines orders 30 Airbus A350 aircraft

(NSI News Source Info) 05 August 2008: Asiana Airlines of South Korea has signed a contract with Airbus for the purchase of 30 A350 XWB aircraft, plus 10 options. Delivery of the aircraft will begin in 2016 and the airline will take a combination of all three variants of the A350. The carrier will operate the aircraft on its regional and long haul routes. “The A350 will play a key role in the Asiana fleet of the future,” said Park Chan-Bup, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Asiana Airlines. “In placing this order today, we are ensuring that we will remain at the forefront of the airline industry, offering our passengers the very highest levels of comfort while operating only the most modern, fuel-efficient aircraft.” “We are pleased that Asiana has become the latest airline to select the A350 XWB, further strengthening the global customer base for this all-new aircraft family,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “With a fast-growing order book, the A350 is set to shape efficiency in the mid-size widebody category, with a step reduction of 20 per cent in fuel-burn and the lowest operating costs of any aircraft in its class. This will translate into very real economic advantages for operators such as Asiana, while at the same time reducing further the impact of aviation on the environment.” The A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) Family is Airbus’ response to widespread market demand for a series of highly efficient medium-capacity long-range wide-body aircraft. With a range of up to 8,300 nm / 15,400 km, it is available in three basic passenger versions: the A350-800 accommodating 270 passengers, the A350-900 seating 314, and the A350-1000 for 350 passengers in a typical three-class layout. The A350 has the widest fuselage in its category, offering unprecedented levels of comfort, the lowest operating costs and lowest seat mile cost of any aircraft in this market segment. Powered by two new generation Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines delivering each up to 92,000 lbs of thrust, the A350 XWB Family is designed to confront the challenges of high fuel prices, rising passenger expectations, and environmental concerns. Orders for the aircraft stand at more than 350 from over 20 customers.