Iberia, a major European customer with 20 A350s on order and 14 in service, recently received the 500th A350, an A350-900. Beyond being a symbol, the 500th A350 represents a significant milestone for Airbus and its expanding versatile family, which now includes the A350-900, A350-1000, and the newest Airbus freighter, the A350F.
With this delivery to Iberia, Airbus marks the 500th delivery of the A350 family. To date, the A350 Family has flown in the liveries of 39 airlines carrying 225 million passengers on over 900 routes around the world, and with over 400 orders on the books.
The magic of the A350
Eight years after entering service, the A350 family continues to attract operators. Thanks to the improved performance, 25% less fuel use, CO2 emissions, and noise footprint, as well as high versatility (up to 9,700nm/18 000 km) and efficiency.
“When we designed the A350 and delivered the first one, we were extremely proud to have created a real clean sheet, state-of-the-art aircraft, delivering unmatched performance and economics. It offers outstanding space, comfort and quietness to the passengers, and it contributes significantly to decarbonising aviation. The A350 is providing today a versatile platform to support our customers’ strategy in front of a more and more complex environment.”
Philippe Mhun, EVP Programmes and Services at Airbus.
Airbus also unveils the A350’s latest developments
The new Production Standard 2022, which brings additional performance and cabin improvements for both the A350-900 and A350-1000, is also introduced with this 500th delivery. Optimizing systems and structures and increasing the use of advanced materials, which already make up more than 70% of the aircraft, reduces weight relative to previous standards by up to 1.2 tonnes. Additionally, the Maximum Takeoff Weight is raised by 3 tonnes, enabling each model to maintain its ability to travel farther than 8,000 nm while towing a heavier payload. The new standard has an interior cabin that is wider at armrest level. A typical 3-class configuration can accommodate more than 30 extra seats thanks to the increased cabin space.
Through these upgrades, operators can operate more profitably and adaptably while giving passengers more room and comfort in the quietest cabin in its class. Additionally, it puts the A350 platform in a position to be ready for emerging trends like decarbonization technologies, a major motivator for operators. As part of a group effort with many other customers to lead the aerospace industry’s decarbonization journey, numerous airlines from around the world, including the most recent A350 operators ITA Airways, Frenchbee, Worldf2Fly, Turkish Airlines, Air Caraibes, and SAS, have chosen the A350 to reach their environmental targets.
