IATA 359ICAO A359

Airbus A350-900

Airbus

TravelerPulse profile

Airbus's efficient twin-engine wide-body for ultra-long-haul routes.

First flight

2013

Category

Wide-body jet

Seating

300–350 (typical 3-class); up to 440 (high-density)

Range

15,000 km

Engines

2 × Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 turbofans

Status

In production

The Airbus A350-900 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jetliner developed by Airbus as a direct competitor to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777. Entering commercial service with Qatar Airways in January 2015, it represents a major step forward in fuel efficiency and passenger comfort, with its airframe constructed from approximately 53% carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer and other composite materials. The aircraft features a cabin width of 5.61 metres, accommodating up to nine seats abreast in economy class, and is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines — among the most fuel-efficient large turbofans ever produced. The A350-900 offers airlines roughly 25% lower fuel burn compared with earlier-generation aircraft of similar size. The -900 is the baseline and most popular variant of the A350 family, with the longer A350-1000 and a now-cancelled shorter A350-800 also having been part of the programme. It has become a preferred aircraft for many carriers operating demanding ultra-long-haul routes globally.

Notable operators

Major operators include Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Lufthansa, Air France, China Airlines, and Ethiopian Airlines.

Notable facts

›The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB is the most efficient large civil aero-engine by specific fuel consumption at entry into service.
›Approximately 53% of the airframe by weight is made of carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer and other composites.
›The A350-900ULR (Ultra Long Range) variant entered service with Singapore Airlines in 2018, operating the world's longest commercial flights.
›The cockpit is designed for commonality with other Airbus fly-by-wire types, reducing pilot transition training time.
›The cabin features larger windows than previous Airbus widebodies, with electronically dimmable shades instead of traditional blinds.

Read more on Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Specifications may be inaccurate or vary by variant/operator — verify with the manufacturer before relying on them.

Encyclopaedia

The Airbus A350 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine airliner developed and produced by Airbus. The initial A350 design, which was proposed in 2004 in response to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, would have been a development of the Airbus A330 with composite wings, advanced winglets, and new efficient engines. Due to inadequate market support, Airbus switched in 2006 to a clean-sheet extra wide body (XWB) design, powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB high bypass turbofan engines. The prototype first flew on 14 June 2013 from Toulouse, France. Type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) was obtained in September 2014, followed by certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) two months later.

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