China Airlines joins A350 club
Guest Writers are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the specific writer directly
China Airlines has become the latest Asian carrier to take delivery of the new Airbus A350 aircraft.
Taiwan’s national carrier welcomed its first A350 – an A350-900 model – on Friday, making it the ninth global airline to operate the long-haul aircraft and the fourth from the Asia Pacific region, after Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Thai Airways.
China Airlines’ A350-900s will be able to carry a total of 306 passengers across three cabins, with 32 flat-bed seats in business class, 31 seats in premium economy and 243 in economy. After an initial period flying on regional services between Taipei and Hong Kong, the aircraft will be deployed on long-haul routes, starting with Amsterdam and then followed by Vienna and Rome.
The carrier has ordered a total of 14 A350-900s, with the first three due to be delivered this year, a further six in 2017 and the final four in 2018.
A rival to Boeing’s fuel-efficient Dreamliner series, the A350 features aerodynamic enhancements, a carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus new Rolls-Royce engines, to reduce fuel burn, emissions and operating costs. For passengers, the A350 is also quieter than older aircraft, such as the A340 it replaces.
The arrival of the A350 continues China Airlines’ long-haul fleet renewal and expansion strategy; since October 2014 the airline has added 10 brand new Boeing 777-300ERs to its fleet, which, along with the A350s, will allow it to replace its older A340s and B747s.
To date, Airbus has taken firm orders for more than 810 A350s from 43 customers.
Comments are closed.