Qatar Airways deciding whether to use more A350 wide-body jets or more A380s
Qatar Airways will next year get its first Airbus A350 plane. It already has 3 A380s and will soon be getting its 4th and has firm orders for a total of 10. Qatar has ordered 80 of the A350s. Qatar will be comparing how the two types perform, in deciding whether to buy more A380s. There are three varieties of A350 (A350-800. 900 and 1000) and they can have between 276-369 seats in two classes. It the most direct rival to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The A380 can take 525 passengers in a three-class configuration, and up to 853 for one class (no airline does that). The head of Qatar Airways, Mr Al Baker, expects the A350 to give fuel efficiency benefits over current planes, and says the A350 planes will enable Qatar to open new routes using it. If Qatar decides to cancel or swap its orders for more A380 it would be a serious setback for their production, as there have been no new orders during 2014. Production of the A380 will only break even in 2015. The largest user of the A380, Emirates, has had theirs for 7 years, and wants a different engine, for better fuel efficiency. The A350 XWB uses new Rolls-Royce engines which are ckaimed to use 20% less fuel than current aircraft.
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Akbar Al Baker, chief executive of Qatar Airways, is to decide next year whether to exercise an option to buy three more A380s after comparing the two jets.
“I have to see how the two aircraft perform, what the difference is,” he told the Financial Times as he collected the first of 80 A350s on order. Mr Al Baker was also taking ownership of his fourth A380. Qatar has a firm order for 10 of the superjumbos, as well as the option for three more.
The Qatar boss said he expected the A350 to have a “huge gain in fuel efficiency” over existing aircraft, though the A380 had also shown “very positive performance indicators”.
…………… full FT article at
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/600fc2ca-8ce5-11e4-9f52-00144feabdc0.html?siteedition=uk#axzz3NBkRNtLf
Below is information from Airbus on their various types of plane
A350
A350 XWBs are part of the Airbus Widebody Family.
The A350 XWB is an all-new family of widebody aircraft offering 276-369 seats with its three passenger versions: A350-800, A350-900 and A350-1000. Scheduled to enter commercial service in early 2015 with global launch customer Qatar Airways, the A350 XWB will set a new standard of comfort and efficiency in its class, with 25 per cent lower fuel consumption compared to its current competitor.
A350 family
November 2014
Total orders 778
Total deliveries 0
In operation 0
http://www.airbus.com/aircraftfamilies/passengeraircraft/a350xwbfamily/
A350-1000
The A350-1000 is the longest-fuselage version of Airbus’ A350 XWBs. In a typical two-class configuration, the A350-1000 seats a total of 369 passengers. The aircraft also can be configured for a higher-density layout to accommodate up to 400 passengers. Combined with a range of 8,000 nautical miles, this represents a significant revenue-generating advantage for operators. The A350-1000 is scheduled to enter service in 2017.
350-1000
November 2014
Total orders 169
Total deliveries 0
In operation 0
http://www.airbus.com/aircraftfamilies/passengeraircraft/a350xwbfamily/a350-1000/
A350-900
The A350-900 is the cornerstone member of Airbus’ all-new A350 XWB Family, which is tailored to meet airlines’ future market requirements in medium-to-long haul operations.
As the first A350 XWB Family version that will enter airline service, the A350-900 has the same optimised cabin cross-section as the other A350 XWB versions (A350-800 and A350-1000) – which ensures maximum comfort for both passengers and crew while guaranteeing operators optimum revenue potential and operating efficiency.
This jetliner accommodates 315 passengers in a two-class configuration, while offering unbeatable economics in high-density seating and true long-haul capability with a range of up to 7,750 nautical miles.
A350-900
November 2014
Total orders 577
Total deliveries 0
In operation 0
http://www.airbus.com/aircraftfamilies/passengeraircraft/a350xwbfamily/a350-900/
A380
The double-deck A380 is the world’s largest commercial aircraft flying today, with capacity to carry 525 passengers in a comfortable three-class configuration, and up to 853 in a single-class configuration that provides wider seats than its competitor. Overall, the A380’s two decks offer 50 per cent more floor surface than any other high-capacity aircraft.
With superior range of 15,700 km., the A380 is the ideal solution to alleviate traffic congestion at busy airports. It has two full-length passenger levels with true widebody dimensions: a main deck and an upper deck, which are conveniently linked by fixed stairs forward and aft.
With superior range of 15,700 km., the A380 is the ideal solution to alleviate traffic congestion at busy airports. It has two full-length passenger levels with true widebody dimensions: a main deck and an upper deck, which are conveniently linked by fixed stairs forward and aft.
http://www.airbus.com/aircraftfamilies/passengeraircraft/a380family/
Airbus orders and deliveries of various planes so far
A300/A310 … orders and deliveries 816
A320 … orders and deliveries 11,163
A330/A340/A350 XWB … orders and deliveries 2,549
A380 …orders and deliveries 318 (147 have been delivered and are in service)
Total Orders of Airbus planes as of 30 November 2014 …. 14,846
http://www.airbus.com/no_cache/company/market/orders-deliveries/.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a long-range, mid-size wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Its variants seat 242 to 335 passengers in typical 3-class seating configurations. It is Boeing’s most fuel-efficient airliner and the world’s first major airliner to use composite materials as the primary material in the construction of its airframe. The 787 was designed to be 20% more fuel efficient than the 767 it is replacing.
External features include raked wingtips and engine nacelles with noise-reducing serrated edges (chevrons).[176] The longest-range 787 variant can fly 8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles (14,800 to 15,700 km), enough to cover the Los Angeles to Bangkok or New York City to Hong Kong routes.
Boeing 787 orders and deliveries by type
787-8 Total orders 459 Total deliveries 203
787-9 Total orders 457 Total deliveries 7
787-10 Total orders 139 Total deliveries –
Total 1,055 210
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787_Dreamliner
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