AWAS reaffirms commitment to A350 XWB programme, converting positions to A350-900 widebodies
02-Oct-2014 AWAS announced today the decision made in September to convert its positions for two A350-800s to two of the larger A350-900 model. AWAS was an initial launch customer for the programme, and one of the first lessors to place an order for this game changing aircraft and will receive both aircraft from this firm order in 2017.
Ray Sisson, President & CEO AWAS commented, "AWAS is very pleased to be able to offer our global airline customers the breakthrough performance and efficiency of the A350 XWB. Our conversion to larger A350-900 model reflects our overall confidence and the strong development of the programme to date."
"AWAS' decision to upsize to the A350-900 underlines the trend we are seeing across all market segments favouring larger aircraft models in all size categories," said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. "The A350-900 is the newest generation member of Airbus' leading widebody aircraft family, and thanks to its wider cabin, passengers enjoy an optimal travel experience with wider seats, more headroom, wider panoramic windows and larger overhead storage space. Customers benefit from the A350 XWB's state of the art technologies, from advanced materials, to latest systems and engines which deliver a 25 per cent advantage in fuel and operating costs, more range and additional seats for greater revenue potential."
The A350-900 received Type Certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on 30th September 2014. The certified aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce
Trent XWB engines. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification is planned to follow shortly.
The A350 XWB is Airbus' all-new mid-size long range product line and the newest member of Airbus' leading widebody family. The A350 XWB stands out in its class thanks to its combination of passenger comfort, technological innovation and its unique industrial process. Built hand-in-hand with our customers, the A350 XWB sets new standards in terms of passenger experience, operational efficiency and cost- effectiveness. At the end of August 2014, the A350 XWB had won 750 orders from 39 customers worldwide.