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Cathay Pacific A350-900

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Cathay Pacific has inked an agreement with Airbus for the purchase of six more A350-900 aircraft in a deal worth $1.62 billion.

 

It expects to take delivery of the aircraft between 2016 and 2017 and operate them on long-haul routes to destinations in Europe, said the airline in a stock exchange statement.

 

It added that the six aircraft, which brings its order for the -900s to 36, will "replenish and expand" its fleet capacity.

 

"The company expects that the Airbus aircraft will deliver improved payload range capability at competitive operating costs while providing high standards of passenger comfort and safety," said Cathay.

The aircraft will be paid for in eight instalments, with the first seven to be made before delivery and the balance once the aircraft are received.

 

Funding will come from commercial bank loans and other debt instruments of the airline or cash generated from its business operations, it added.

 

Cathay had previously said that it needs "new super efficient aircraft" to replace its ageing fleet of Boeing 747-400s and Airbus A340s to meet its expansion plans.

 

The airline first signed an agreement for 30 -900s in 2010.

 

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/cathay-pacific-inks-deal-for-six-more-a350-900s-367166/

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Cathay Pacific selects A350-1000

 

800x600_1341908508_A350-1000_CATHAY_HKG.jpg

 

 

 

Airline to add largest version of all-new airliner to existing A350 XWB order

10 JULY 2012

 

Cathay Pacific Airways today announced that it intends to add the A350-1000 to its future A350 XWB fleet, with an agreement to place a new order for 10 aircraft. In addition, the Hong Kong-based airline will convert 16 of its existing orders for the A350-900 to the larger A350-1000. The acquisition of the A350-1000, which is subject to the approval of the Board of the airline, will bring the total number of A350 XWB aircraft ordered by Cathay Pacific to 48. The airline also has separate lease agreements to acquire two more aircraft.

 

The A350-1000 is the largest version of the A350 XWB family and typically seats 350 passengers in a three class layout. The aircraft is capable of flying 8,400 nautical miles non-stop and will be operated by Cathay Pacific on higher density routes, including its longest non-stop flights to Europe and North America. The aircraft will be powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines delivering 97,000lbs of thrust – the most powerful engines ever developed for an Airbus aircraft.

 

“This is an important and strategic development for Cathay Pacific. The A350-1000 aircraft will bring us world-beating fuel efficiency and environmental friendliness” said John Slosar, Chief Executive, Cathay Pacific Airways. “It will also be a very popular aircraft with our customers and its improved payload and range will allow us to connect more and more important cities worldwide directly with Hong Kong.”

 

“This announcement from one of the world’s most highly respected airlines is a clear endorsement of the unbeatable operating economics offered by the A350-1000,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President & CEO. “The A350-1000 will be a game changer in the 350-seat category, offering outstanding payload-range capability and a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn. As an all-new design, it will outperform existing aircraft in its size category on every count, as well as any future derivatives of those aircraft.”

 

The A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) Family is an all-new mid-size long range product line comprising three versions seating between 270 and 350 passengers in typical three-class layouts. Scheduled for entry-into-service in 2014, the A350 XWB is already one of most successful aircraft programmes ever, with a total of 548 firm orders already received from 34 customers worldwide.

 

http://youtu.be/aSALI85GH-Q

Edited by flee

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Cathay Pacific plans A350 product and network deployment, premium economy adjustment

 

The planned Feb-2016 delivery of Cathay Pacific’s first A350 XWB will allow it to fulfill the strategic objectives of having the latest premium product, long-haul growth and fleet efficiency. Cathay’s first new aircraft type in nearly a decade and first new aircraft family in two decades will arrive with a refreshed business class product that will be retrofitted across the long-haul fleet, reflecting how important it is during a more competitive environment for Cathay to have the latest premium product, even with relatively minor adjustments.
Another response to competition, and fulfilling demand, is long-haul growth that ensures superior network scale. A350-900s will open European destinations while -1000s will do so in North America. The aircraft also bring efficiency, which Cathay is missing as it continues to operate A340s and 747s. The A350s will arrive with an enhanced premium economy seat while the cabin will be scaled back on A330s in Australia, the Middle East and India, evidencing a false-start for a product that has otherwise found success on long-haul and ultra-long-haul flights to Europe and North America.

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Wonder if some A350XWBs will be transferred over to Dragonair as well.

CX is more likely to transfer older 333/333E/333X to KA rather than the new 350. Currently CX has not named a replacement aircraft for its regional 333.

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Wonder if some A350XWBs will be transferred over to Dragonair as well.

CX's A350XWBs are for long haul operations and is configured for such missions. I do not think that KA, being a regional airline, will have any use for long haul aircraft.

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CX is more likely to transfer older 333/333E/333X to KA rather than the new 350. Currently CX has not named a replacement aircraft for its regional 333.

True. I was on KA's A333, rego. B-HLI, last month and realised it was ex-CX A333. B-HLI is now on regional KA routes.

 

They gave her a new interior though.

 

Interesting enough, from my recent experience, I found 77W seems a tad noisier than A343! Though I was given noise cancellation headphones on the Premium Economy class, I can still hear the noise coming in on a 77W!

Edited by S V Choong

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I can't tell the difference between A340 and A330 when it comes to noise level.


CX gets it right to have the same cabin for long-haul and short-haul aircraft. I hate when airlines don't think seat comfort is important for short-medium flights.

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On the A330/A340, you can't hear the engine noise if you are seated in front, ahead of the engines - the primary source of noise is wind noise. You can only hear the engines during take off and landing, when the aircraft is flying slowly and there is less wind noise.

 

The B777 is famous for being noisy - this is especially so if you move from a B777 to an A380!

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I was seated in cattle class, more likely behind the engines.

 

I was on A330 and then 747 on CX. It was my first time on 747. Oh boy, this queen is really noisy!

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On the A330/A340, you can't hear the engine noise if you are seated in front, ahead of the engines - the primary source of noise is wind noise. You can only hear the engines during take off and landing, when the aircraft is flying slowly and there is less wind noise.

 

The B777 is famous for being noisy - this is especially so if you move from a B777 to an A380!

 

The A380 is very quiet and especially so if you are seated in front of the engines.

 

The engine growl on the 77W or 77L during start up is just horrible - caused the cabin to rattle quite a bit.

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The sound of the GE90 is the unadulterated sound of pure engine muscle - as cabin rattling as it may be - it certainly does evoke a sense of prowess.

 

Airbus hydraulic wind-down post shutdown is one of the most irritating sounds about - so to are the clunking noises made whenever toe-brakes are applied.

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one cannot just compare the "loudness" - as its obvious that a 77W GE engines are noiser as it generates 115,000 of trust each engine, whereas a A380 with 4 engines and each only produce less than 80,000 of trust. Similiarly a A330 uses a less powerful engines than the 777s.

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The sound of the GE90 is the unadulterated sound of pure engine muscle - as cabin rattling as it may be - it certainly does evoke a sense of prowess.

 

Airbus hydraulic wind-down post shutdown is one of the most irritating sounds about - so to are the clunking noises made whenever toe-brakes are applied.

yes, one of the most annoying them about A320, A330 and A340 are the brakes, the clunking noise made them felt like they are not refined. I don't remember hearing this on the A345 and A346?

 

When the landing gear pops open just before landing, there would be a loud bang which can be quite unpleasant. I hope these 'features' are not carried across to the A350s.

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yes pounds of thrust

Though if someone is able to quantify trust in pounds somehow, I have no doubt there will be many waiting in queues for some :D

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First A350 XWB for Cathay Pacific is taking shape

 

csm_A350_XWB_Cathay_Pacific_at_Station_4
Cathay Pacific’s first A350 XWB at the Airbus Final Assembly Line in Toulouse (France)
6 JULY 2015
Assembly of the first A350-900 for Cathay Pacific Airways is progressing well at Airbus’ A350 XWB Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France. Following the fuselage section joining phase, the wings, the horizontal and vertical tailplane as well as tail cone have been joined to the fuselage. Following this, the aircraft will move to the next assembly station for structural completion, ground testing and start of cabin installation.
The aircraft is scheduled for delivery early next year and will be the first of 48 A350 XWBs acquired by Cathay Pacific. Cathay Pacific’s A350 XWB fleet will include 22 A350-900s and 26 of the larger A350-1000s, for operation on long- and medium-haul services.
The A350 XWB is Airbus’ all-new mid-size long range aircraft and the latest member of the manufacturer’s leading widebody family. It is the world’s most modern and efficient aircraft in its size category and is setting new standards in terms of inflight experience, operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness for airlines.
The A350 XWB has been especially successful in the Asia-Pacific region, where 11 major airlines have ordered a total of 244 aircraft out of the 781 total ordered so far. Cathay Pacific represents one fifth of the A350 XWB total orders from Asia-Pacific.

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Cathay Pacific’s first A350 arrives in Hong Kong

New-generation aircraft to offer a Life Well Travelled for passengers

30 May 2016

Cathay Pacific Airways’ first Airbus A350-900XWB aircraft arrived at Hong Kong International Airport from Toulouse, France on Sunday, 29 May. It is the first of 48 A350s scheduled to be delivered to the airline. The new aircraft features Cathay Pacific’s latest inflight products in the Business Class, Premium Economy Class and Economy Class cabins, enriching the experience of passengers and helping the airline to deliver on its promise of a Life Well Travelled.

The airline held a special event in the hangars of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO) at Hong Kong International Airport today (30 May) to give an exclusive preview of the new arrival to aviation and trade officials, key business partners, members of the Marco Polo Club loyalty programme and guests from the Hong Kong public.

Guest of Honour at the event was Joseph Lai, Permanent Secretary for Transport & Housing (Transport), who officiated at the welcome ceremony together with Cathay Pacific Chief Operating Officer Rupert Hogg.

“We understand that for our passengers, sleeping well, enjoying first-class entertainment, and using products that have been designed with them in mind are of the utmost importance. The new A350 will provide the very best of all these,” Mr Hogg said. “The lower cabin pressure and noise levels combine with our new features to set passengers up for the best sleeping experience possible in the skies. We have gone all out to provide the best inflight entertainment too. All seats come with the latest high-definition touchscreen personal TVs and a greater selection of movies, TV, live news channels and music. Inflight Wi-Fi is also available to connect passengers to family, work and world events, if they choose. We could not be more excited with what we’ve seen so far of the A350, and I’m sure that our passengers will feel the same way once they step on board.

“This superbly efficient aircraft will help us further expand our global network and strengthen Hong Kong’s reputation as an international aviation hub, helping to oil the wheels of commerce and trade in our home city,” Mr Hogg added.

The features of Cathay Pacific’s new A350-900 take the passenger travel experience to a new level. The design of many of the cabin features has been carefully considered to give passengers the best sleeping experience, the best entertainment, and to offer them greater control over how they want to use the space, whether for working or to relax. With its extra wide body, the aircraft offers more space and comfort. The A350 is designed for the wellbeing of passengers; the quiet cabin, panoramic windows, LED mood lighting and huge overhead lockers all contribute to a more comfortable and relaxing journey in all cabin classes.

The A350 Business Class seats build on the success of Cathay Pacific’s award-winning long-haul Business Class product to create a truly memorable experience. Alongside a fully flat bed, new features include extra stowage space within easy reach and the personal service offered by a “Do Not Disturb” and “Wake Up Call” function in the entertainment system.

The Premium Economy Class and Economy Class seats also come with a number of new features, including dedicated tablet holders that make it easy for passengers to enjoy entertainment content on their own devices, and exclusive power outlets and USB ports. Each Premium Economy Class seat has a fully integrated leg rest which, together with the ergonomically designed seat, allows more flexibility to adjust for optimal comfort. The six-way headrest in Economy Class is a proprietary design that provides better support and enhances sleeping comfort.

The new A350 inflight entertainment system is inspired by the airline’s latest design philosophy. The interactive user interface is contemporary and fresh looking. It is equipped with notable new interactive features which broaden the inflight entertainment options for passengers along with a wider screen in all classes. Connectivity is installed for the first time in a Cathay Pacific aircraft, allowing passengers, for a fee, to browse the internet, send and receive emails and connect on social media. Access to the Cathay Pacific website, a number of partner websites and three live TV news channels is available free of charge.

The newly delivered A350-900XWB employs innovative technology and design which improves not only passenger comfort but also the efficiency, effectiveness and overall performance of the aircraft. Its state-of-the-art design, together with the latest generation of engines and the use of advanced construction materials – including carbon fibre composites – deliver a 25% improvement in operating costs overall when compared to previous-generation aircraft.

Powered by the latest technology Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, the A350 is the quietest among the aircraft types in its class and also 25% more fuel efficient. As part of the Cathay Pacific Group's ongoing support for the commercialisation of sustainable aviation biofuels, all the airline’s A350-900 aircraft – including the first delivery – are being flown from Toulouse using fuel containing a 10% blend of biofuel.

Cathay Pacific aims to build on the advantages offered by the A350 to further expand its global connectivity by operating more flights to more destinations throughout its network. This will provide passengers with a wider range of travel choices, at the same time as strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a key international aviation hub.

Cathay Pacific’s first A350-900 will enter into service on 1 June with a turnaround flight to Manila. It will operate mainly on regional destinations until more A350s arrive, and the aircraft will be deployed on various long-haul routes - including London Gatwick and Düsseldorf - from the third quarter of 2016.

Please click here to read more about Cathay Pacific’s A350-900.

 

https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_HK/about-us/press-room/press-release/2016/Cathay-pacifics-first-a350-arrives-in-hong-kong.html

 

 

From Australian Aviation:

 

http://australianaviation.com.au/2016/05/cathay-pacific-takes-delivery-of-first-a350/

Edited by S V Choong

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If no equipment subs happen I will ride it next Saturday. Looking forward to it.

 

Snap some pics for us, Suzanne!! I wish CX could put them onto HKG-PVG route so I get to ride in them...

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Snap some pics for us, Suzanne!! I wish CX could put them onto HKG-PVG route so I get to ride in them...

 

I try. I'm a lousy photographer anyway. Besides, I'm not getting my hopes up as CX does swaps from time to time on regional runs :)

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I try. I'm a lousy photographer anyway. Besides, I'm not getting my hopes up as CX does swaps from time to time on regional runs :)

 

Thats true, I have been CXed before... A330 to A340 (not that mind), A340 to A330... B777-200 to B777-300

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I try. I'm a lousy photographer anyway. Besides, I'm not getting my hopes up as CX does swaps from time to time on regional runs :)

Tell me about it. I was about to get my first chance at flying an A340 2 years back.. and how extremely disappointed I was when it was an A330 at the gates.......

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