The A350 is proving a preferred plane with each airways and passengers. On this article, we check out who is working the plane at the beginning of 2020. Which airways are the highest operators, what orders are in place for extra and the place are they flying?
A350 orders and deliveries
Airbus has delivered a complete of 347 A350 plane to 31 airways (as of December 31st, 2019, information from Airbus and Wikipedia). Of those, 208 are A350-900 variants, and 29 are the bigger A350-1000.
Lots extra can be flying over the approaching years as effectively. Whole orders presently (once more, as at finish of 2019) stand at 926 plane (750 A350-900 and 176 A350-100). For some extra element on the plane and its recognition, check out our A350 vs Boeing 787 comparability.
Certainly, Asia and the Center East is the place you wish to be flying for those who just like the A350. Eight of the highest 10 operators are primarily based there.
Qatar – A350 fleet of 53
Qatar operates the biggest A350 fleet – presently 39 A350-900 and 14 A350-1000 plane. It has an additional 29 A350-1000 plane on order, which can hold it within the high place for the foreseeable future. Qatar was the launch buyer for the A350-900 again in 2014, and likewise for the A350-1000 in 2018.
The Boeing 777 (each the 200 and 300 variants are in operation) presently simply outnumber the A350 for Qatar, however it will change very quickly.
Emirates can be one other main Center Jap operator as effectively when it takes supply of its Airbus A350. It positioned a headline-grabbing order for 50 plane on the Dubai Air Present in 2019.
Singapore Airways – a fleet of 45
In shut second place is Singapore Airways. It has made a serious dedication to the A350 with 45 A350-900 in operation and 22 extra on order. This can be a main a part of its complete fleet of 137 plane. Singapore Airways has seven A350-900ULR fashions. These are used for his or her Los Angeles, Newark, and San Francisco providers.
Singapore Airways function the A350 on each lengthy haul and short-haul flights. Regional locations embody Bangalore, Colombo, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Seoul. For a glance inside, take a learn of our evaluate of Singapore Airways’ A350 enterprise class here.
Cathay Pacific – a fleet of 36
In third place is one other main Asian airline, Cathay Pacific. It operates 25 A350-900 and 12 A350-1000 plane. The Boeing 777-300 continues to be the dominant member of their all widebody fleet, with 68 777-300 and 777-300ER working, and 21 777-9 plane on order.
Like Singapore Airways, Cathay Pacific operates the A350 on regional in addition to lengthy haul flights, together with Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, Manila, Osaka, Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo.
Lufthansa -a fleet of 15
Lufthansa is the biggest operator of the A350 in Europe, and presently the fourth largest operator globally. With 30 extra plane on order, it’ll stay amongst the highest operators for a while.
Lufthansa flies the A350 solely on lengthy haul routes. These embody Munich to Beijing, Cape City, Charlotte, Chicago, Delhi, Denver, Montreal, Mumbai, Newark, Osaka, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo Haneda, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Finnair – a fleet of 14
Finnair is the second-largest operator of the A350 in Europe, with 14 A350-900 plane and 5 extra on order.
It supplies one of the best likelihood to fly regionally on the A350 in Europe, because it usually operates the plane from Helsinki to London and Brussels (although not all flights).
Delta – a fleet of 13
Delta is the biggest operator of the A350 within the US – the one one of many main US airways to fly the kind. It presently has 13 A350-900 plane, with 16 extra on order. Delta has the second largest complete fleet of any airline although – 908 plane throughout a blended Boeing, Airbus, and McDonnell Douglas fleet.
The plane is operated on routes to Asia and the Netherlands and options the brand new Delta One Suite.
Ethiopian Airways
Ethiopian Airways is notable as having the biggest A350 fleet in Africa. It operates 14 A350-900 plane and has an additional 10 on order. South African Airways additionally operates the A350 however solely has a fleet of 4 and no extra on order.
Different Asian airways with rising fleets
A lot of main Asian airways have additionally launched the A350. A few of these airways have orders to develop the fleet and can quickly transfer their approach up the record. These embody the next:
- Vietnam Airways – 14 plane
- Thai Airways – 12 plane
- China Airways – 14 plane, with 20 extra on order (all A350-900)
- Air China – 10 plane
- Asian Airways – 9 A350-900 plane, with 11 A350-900 and 9 A350-1000 on order
- Hong Kong Airways – 6 A350-900 plane with 5 on order
- Malaysian Airways – 6 plane
- Philippine Airways – 6 plane
