The Airbus A50 XWB carrying Qatar’s flag makes its first landing at the Hamad International Airport yesterday.
By Pratap John/Chief Business Reporter
Qatar Airways, which is the launch customer of the Airbus A350 XWB, will receive first of the fuel efficient, mid-sized wide-body airliner later this year and nine more in 2015, Group CEO Akbar al-Baker has said.
“The first A350 XWB delivery will be at the end of this year. The test programme is going absolutely perfectly, without any glitches. Airbus has been very transparent with us on the subject of its test results,” al-Baker told Gulf Times in Doha yesterday.
“Once Airbus ramps up production we will receive larger numbers of Airbus A350 a year. It will be more than one aircraft a month, starting from 2016. After which we will receive more than two aircraft a month. In 2017, we will start receiving the stretched version A350-1000, for which we are also the launch customer” al-Baker said.
The A350 XWB is a family of mid-sized wide-body airliners designed to enhance fuel, operating costs and environmental efficiencies during medium-to-long haul airline operations. Featuring the very latest in aerodynamics, design and advanced technologies, these highly efficient aircraft provide better fuel efficiency of up to 25%.
Over 70% of the A350 XWB’s weight-efficient airframe is made from advanced materials combining composites (53%), titanium and advanced aluminium alloys.
The aircraft’s innovative all-new Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) fuselage results in lower fuel burn as well as easier maintenance.
Now in its advanced flight test programme phase, the A350 XWB airliners are scheduled to enter into commercial service in Q4, 2014. Qatar Airways has ordered some 80 aircraft to date, leaning towards the larger A350-900 and A350-1000 models, which better suit its business model and passenger requirements.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways yesterday welcomed the Airbus A350 XWB as it made its first-ever landing at the new Hamad International Airport (HIA), before departing for its next stop, the Singapore Airshow.
On the occasion, al-Baker said, “This is yet another key milestone in Qatar’s aviation progress. We have been steadily investing in our infrastructure to enable us to stay ahead of the latest developments in the global aviation sector. Hamad International Airport, which was built for advanced aircraft such as the Airbus A350 XWB, is our flagship asset and will soon be the new home of Qatar Airways and our modern fleet of aircraft, including the A350 XWB family.”
Airbus A350 XWB programme executive vice president Didier Evrard said the Middle East region would account for more than 30% of the 800 Airbus A350 XWB sold so far.
“This aircraft incorporates brand new technology and has a brand new engine in existence today. We expect the market share to remain very high,” he said.
The A350-900 will have a capacity of 300 passengers and the stretch -1000 can add another 50 passengers, he said.
Rolls Royce senior vice president (customer business) Phil Harris, Qatar Tourism Authority’s chairman Issa bin Mohamed al-Mohannadi, ambassadors Jean-Christophe Peaucelle (France), Angelikai Storz-Chakarj (Germany) and Maria Del Carmen De Labena (Spain) were among the dignitaries present.
HIA to be operational by Q2
The Hamad International Airport will be operational by the second quarter of this year, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker has said.
Spread across an area one third of the size of the city of Doha, the HIA spans some 22sq km, and is one of the most elaborate greenfield airport projects in the world today.
Its state-of-the-art design aims to set a new global standard in commercial aviation. Upon initial opening, it will accommodate up to 24mn passengers, and up to 50mn by 2015. With its dual runway system, it will have the capacity to handle up to 360,000 aircraft annually, approximately 2.5 times more than the current airport.
The HIA’s dual runway system comprises a 4,850m eastern runway and a 4,250m western runway that are 2km apart. Designed for superior runway efficiency, it will be able to handle about 100 aircraft every hour.
