US Airways firms up order for 20 A350s
29 November 2005
Following a commitment announced in May 2005 by US Airways and America West, US Airways Group - the merged entity of the two low-cost carriers - has firmed up their order and signed the contract for 20 Airbus A350 aircraft. The airline has not yet announced its engine selection or seating configuration for the aircraft. US Airways' intention is for the A350 to broaden its international service from both the eastern and western United States. Deliveries of the aircraft will begin in 2011 and run through 2014.
"When we restructured the airline, we knew we would need a new aircraft to grow with us, and the A350 truly fits the bill," said Doug Parker, chairman, president and chief executive officer of the newly merged US Airways. "As both halves of our heritage include Airbus fleets, we have great confidence in the brand, and look forward to an airplane that meets our needs for range, economy, and comfort, while offering our crews technology with which they are already experienced."
In addition to a single-aisle fleet of some 200 Airbus aircraft, US Airways flies nine A330 widebodies, the pilots of which will need no additional training to transition to the A350. The cockpit commonality between the two aircraft allow pilots of the A330 and A350 to share the same type rating.
"US Airways is our first U.S. airline customer for the A350, and we know they are leading a trend," said Gustav Humbert, President and Chief Executive Officer of Airbus. "We designed the aircraft in direct reaction to airline requests, offering more range and new materials to lighten the load and better the fuel economy. The A350 will be an ideal complement to the existing US Airways fleet."
Orders and commitments for the A350 currently total 155 from eleven customers worldwide. Following a launch of the aircraft programme in October of this year, the first A350 is scheduled to be delivered in 2010. The A350 will seat between 253-300 passengers in three classes, with a range of up to 8,800 nautical miles.
Airbus is a joint EADS company with BAE Systems.
A companhia Northweast tem um total de 170 aparelhos airbus distribuidos pelos 152 A320 e 18 A-330/A-340.
A United Airlines tem um total de 152 aparelhos A-320 em operação
A companhia de tranportes aéreos de carga United Parcel Service tem 47 A-310 em operação.
A Eastern Airlines tem um total de 34 A-310 em voos domésticos pelos EUA.
A Delta tem 9 aparelhos A-310.
A American Airlines tem um total de 34 A-310 em operação para voos domésticos
Concluir-se-á que ao nível americano a Airbus tem maior capacidade de penetração nos pequenos aviões para o pequeno e médio curso, enquanto a Boeing em termos de grandes aparelhos transcontinentais continua a dar cartas no seu país.
New Chinese airline East Star to introduce 20 Airbus A320s
28 November 2005
East Star Airlines, a new Chinese airline based in Wuhan, today signed a Letter of Intent with Airbus for the purchase of 10 A320s plus a firm lease deal with GE Commercial Aviation Service (GECAS) for another 10 A320s, becoming a new Airbus customer in China. Deliveries of the leased A320s to East Star will start from the second quarter of 2006. The aircraft will accommodate 128 passengers in a comfortable two-class configuration.
East Star, the first private airline in the central part of China, received approval for operation from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on June 10, 2005. Headquartered in Wuhan, the Capital city of Hubei Province, East Star Airlines plans to start operations in May 2006 with a network connecting more than 10 major Chinese cities, including Shenzhen, Nanjing, Xi’an, Haikou, and Hangzhou.
"The A320 family aircraft is no doubt the best choice for our new airline. Its unmatched low operating costs with the highest level of passenger comfort will help us take off smoothly and successfully," said Lan Shili, President of East Star Group. "We are very confident that by flying the best-selling aircraft in the world, we will not only ensure a good beginning of profitable operation, but also high standards of service quality for passengers on domestic routes in China."
"It is exciting to be involved in the initial phase of development of East Star Airlines," said Mike Jones, Senior Vice President, GECAS Asia. "We will make joint efforts with Airbus to ensure East Star Airlines’ maiden flight is a great success and get its business off to a good start within one year’s time."
"We are delighted to welcome East Star Airlines as our new customer in China," said Gustav Humbert, Airbus President and CEO. "We feel very proud that East Star Airlines has signed a Letter of Intent for the initial commitment to purchase 10 Airbus A320 aircraft. This shows a new vote of confidence from the Chinese private airlines in our modern family of aircraft."
The A320 Family, recognized as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family, also includes the A318, the A319 and A321 versions and features the newest and most modern design of any single-aisle airliner, with a passenger-pleasing cabin that is popular with travellers - as independent surveys demonstrate. An advanced fuel-saving aerodynamic design, including wingtip fences, centralised maintenance with extended servicing intervals, and proven reliability in day-to-day service contribute to providing the lowest operating costs.
By the end of October 2005, 216 A320 family aircraft are already in service with ten operators in China, while a further 87 A320 family aircraft are still on order. More than 3,700 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been ordered worldwide, of which more than 2,500 have been delivered to date. The Airbus 320 Family has some 200 customers and operators to its credit.
Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS joint company with BAE Systems.
