A350 Program updates

[oz_mark]

A350-1000 pushed back 18 months, to allow bigger engines to be developed (to compete better with 777-300)
A350-800 pushed back two years

A350-900 still scheduled for EIS late 2013

(Reuters) - Airbus has confirmed plans to delay availability of some A350 aircraft to allow time to develop a bigger engine, opening up a second front in a market share battle with Boeing (BA.N) on the eve of the Paris Air Show.

The European planemaker is bowing to customer demand for a more effective challenge to Boeing's 777-300ER long-range airliner, a 365-seater which has notched up sales of more than 500 planes compared with 75 for the largest type of A350.

Airbus revamps A350 in challenge to Boeing 777 | Reuters

 

[JohnK]

I am not up to date as others on aircraft news but for some reason I thought Airbus was cancelling the A350.

 

[codash1099]

I am not up to date as others on aircraft news but for some reason I thought Airbus was cancelling the A350.

A350 morphed into the A350XWB

 

[codash1099]

And so it begins:

Airbus A350 final assembly schedule slips to 2012

 

[Flying Fox]

Ah yes, sounds like a familiar story...

 

[straitman]

Ah yes, sounds like a familiar story...

I was just thinking along the lines of 'I can see a trend here.'

 

[straitman]

A little more information & interesting to note the A340 part of the story.

Airbus Delays A350-900, Terminates A340

Nov 10, 2011

By Jens Flottau [email protected][TABLE="width: 100%"]
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The Airbus A350-900’s entry into service (EIS) has been delayed again, this time because of late arriving center fuselage panels. In its third quarter 2011 earnings release, Airbus parent EADS confirmed that EIS of the aircraft now is scheduled for the first half of 2014. Airbus booked a €200 million ($273 million) charge for the program in the third quarter.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[Paddy55]

I am not up to date as others on aircraft news but for some reason I thought Airbus was cancelling the A350.

Believe the A340 has been ended

 

[straitman]

I am not up to date as others on aircraft news but for some reason I thought Airbus was cancelling the A350.

Believe the A340 has been ended

See the link in my post #7.

It covers A340 termination and A350 update.

 

[casanovawa]

Hmmm, with all the delays i wonder how many of these they will have to build before they hit break even??? Seems for all new models its getting pretty high...

And what is the deal with all the new planes these days having their base model numbers start at around -800 or so??? Seems fairly stupid that within a couple of upgrades they'll all be in the 1000's?!?!

 

[docjames]

Neither the A350 delay nor the cancellation of the A340 is surprising. The former has been anticipated for some time, and whilst the line for the A340 has retained the production possibility, with no orders and alternate aircraft (not least the A330!) able to perform 95% of the A340s potential missions, no surprise to see it go. Shame really, it fills an interesting niche in the market, and is a nice a/c to ride on, but I guess like the 757 the airframes will soldier on for some time.

 

[Flying Fox]

Airbus is having a rough time with new aircraft. Extensive delays with the A380 & A350.

Boeing has only had an extensive delay with the 787.

Will be interesting to see whether these current delays will have knock-on effects with the A320NEO and B737MAX given engineering staff will be delayed transitioning to these new programs.

 

[codash1099]

Interesting juxtaposition - the A350-900 is due to enter service at around the time of the 787-9 EIS.

As neither has been built yet, any bets on which will make it first?

 

[oz_mark]

Airbus is having a rough time with new aircraft. Extensive delays with the A380 & A350.

Boeing has only had an extensive delay with the 787.

I thought the 747-8 was quite late as well?

 

[The Rok]

Didn't VS have some mor of these on order?

I really wonder in the A380 is the right aircraft to replace their A340-600 fleet which is now ageing.

I think Virgin Atlantic should now look to the 777-300ER to expand their metal. It would give them more destination options.

As a side note, can the 777ER manage LHR - PER non stop?

 

[docjames]

Didn't VS have some mor of these on order?

I really wonder in the A380 is the right aircraft to replace their A340-600 fleet which is now ageing.

I think Virgin Atlantic should now look to the 777-300ER to expand their metal. It would give them more destination options.

As a side note, can the 777ER manage LHR - PER non stop?

Not with viable payload (nor can the -200LR which is the longest range 777).

 

[Flying Fox]

I thought the 747-8 was quite late as well?

Woops, yes you are correct. I forgot that Boeing also had problems with that bird as well.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Not with viable payload (nor can the -200LR which is the longest range 777).

The 77L can probably make the distance with the tailwind going LHR-PER. Although it most certainly cannot make it back without a top up. Still, given the fuel it needs to carry, and the needs for extra crew to meet legal/safety requirements, it definitely wouldn't make much economic sense to attempt such a sector.

 

[Major]

I see the A350 is due for it's first flight in the middle of this year

First A350 structurally complete | Australian Aviation Magazine

 

[oz_mark]

Looks like Friday is the day

http://www.airbus.com/presscentre/p...us-confirms-timing-for-a350-xwb-first-flight/

Airbus confirms that the A350 XWB first flight is planned for this Friday, 14th June, based on current visibility of the programme and the flight test status. Weather conditions permitting, the A350 XWB “MSN1” will take off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport at around 10:00 am local time.