THAI orders 12 Airbus A350s
THAI AIRWAYS International Plc has ordered 12 new Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, eight of them on lease.
The first aircraft is scheduled to arrive in August and is expected to replace an old plane on the Bangkok-Melbourne route.
The Airbus A350 XWB is a mid-size long-range commercial aircraft and billed as the most technologically advanced aircraft in the world as well as the most modern and efficient aircraft.
“The national airline will receive delivery of its first Airbus A350 XWB in August 2016, with the second aircraft to be delivered in September 2016, and the remainder to be delivered in 2017. Initially, the Airbus A350 will operate roundtrip on the Bangkok-Melbourne route,” the carrier said.
The delivery of the two Airbus A350 XWB aircraft this year will enable THAI to offer consistent, high-quality products to its passengers on various routes with increased efficiency.
As Australia is one of major markets for Thai tourism, passengers will be able to experience superior comfort and convenience on the A350 XWB, enjoying exceptional service that has received international awards and worldwide recognition.
THAI’s first Airbus A350 XWB has been painted and will be transferred from the Airbus aircraft paint factory in Toulouse, France onto the next production phase, engine installation and passenger cabin decor, before undergoing ground and flight testing.
Alan Pardoe, Airbus head of marketing communications, said that 70 per cent of the A350 XWB was made of weight-efficient airframe, consisting of advanced composite materials such as titanium and advanced aluminium as well as an all-new carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic fuselage, which resulted in lower fuel burns and less maintenance.
He added that the A350 XWB was powered by Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines that were the newest most fuel-efficient engines, with 25 per cent less carbon-dioxide emissions and a substantial reduction in maintenance costs.
The A350 XWB is wide and spacious, providing passengers with comfort and convenience in all classes of travel, with more headroom, wider panoramic windows, and larger overhead space.
THAI’s A350 XWB consists of 321 seats. For Royal Silk Class, there will be 32 seats designed |for maximum business-class comfort.
The seat width is 21 inches, with 180-degree recline, giving passengers easy access to and from their seats without disturbing other passengers.
Each seat is equipped with a 16-inch touchscreen that can connect to Wi-Fi, communication devices, and electrical plugs.
For economy class, there will be 289 seats, with a seat pitch of 32 inches and an 18-inch width. Each seat is equipped with an 11-inch touchscreen that can connect to Wi-Fi, communication devices, and electrical plugs.
