Sixth Airline To Fly The Latest Airbus Airplane

Cathay Pacific Airways has become the sixth airline to operate the Airbus A350 XWB. The airline’s first aircraft featuring the carrier’s new livery has arrived at its home base in Hong Kong.

Cathay Pacific has configured its A350-900 with a premium three class layout with a total of 280 seats, comprising 38 in Business Class, convertible to fully lie-flat beds, 28 in Premium Economy and 214 in the main cabin. After an initial period flying on regional routes, Cathay Pacific’s A350-900 will begin long haul operations later this year.

The A350 XWB features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fiber fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Together, these latest technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency, with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions, and significantly lower maintenance costs, according to Airbus.

Rolls-Royce joined in the celebration of the new operator.

“It is a great pleasure to celebrate the arrival of the first A350 XWB to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific and Airbus," said Paul Freestone, Rolls-Royce, Senior Vice President, Greater China Customer Team – Civil Aerospace. "The Trent XWB has proven to be highly reliable and efficient since it entered commercial service last year. We are proud to partner with Cathay Pacific, a hugely valued customer for over forty years, as it begins its exciting new journey with this outstanding aircraft.”

Cathay Pacific has ordered a total of 22 A350-900 aircraft and 26 A350-1000 aircraft. Its Rolls-Royce powered fleet also includes the A330, the Boeing 747, and the Boeing 777.

The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB is the only engine that powers the A350 XWB and more than 1,600 engines have already been sold to 42 customers.

(Image provided with Airbus news release. Addition information from Rolls-Royce news release)

FMI: www.airbus.com, www.rolls-royce.com