Aer Lingus A350-900

Steyr

While browsing Flight International today i noticed it had a fleet profile of Aer Lingus and says on the bottom:

A350-900 X 6

Perhaps the new Order?

Cessna_Pilot

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/06/06/214465/aer-lingus-orders-six-a350s-and-six-a330-300s.html


Two year old story!

Steyr

I knew about that but when will they be delivered? Gotta say the XWB looks sweet.

Biro

Not for a long time. The A350 is probably not due for service till at least 2012. Will it even be built by then?

Captain Chaos

Hopefully they are quicker than Boeing. The 787's first test flight was due in September 2007 and today it's still no where near ready for flight tests.

I'd be amazed if the A350 is even rolled out by 2012.

Plane Mad

Hopefully Airbus have learnt from the mistakes Boeing has made with the 787 and dont make them with the A350

Tenger

Biro wrote: »

Not for a long time. The A350 is probably not due for service till at least 2012. Will it even be built by then?

A359 is due in service 2013-14. SO testing by 2011-2012 seems likely. Finnair and Aer lingus will be the first European operators, I think Qatar are the launch customer.

Airbus have left a 'generous' timescale for development io the aircraft. Apparently they have learnt from the mistakes of tthe B787 and the A380. The A350 is an evolution of the existing A330/A340 airframe using over 50% composite materials so shouldn't have the same teething problems of the new A380 or B787.

Aer Lingus have an order for 6 with 6 further options,current delivery are from in 2014-2016,so expect 2 per year. This in addition to the ongoing deliveries of 8 A330-300.

Board Walker

Steyr wrote: »

I knew about that but when will they be delivered? Gotta say the XWB looks sweet.

they are ment to take delivery of 2 A350's in 2013

Fishtits

If you believe whats appearing in the press lately, EI are trying to convert their long haul orders to 320 family, wouldn't hold my breath on the 350 order surviving at the moment TBH.

JCX BXC

When will the a350 launch?

Tenger

Carnacalla wrote: »

When will the a350 launch?

A350 has already been 'launched'. Currently 4 frames in the testing phase. Qatar to operate first scheduled flight later this year.

In EI terms the FY2013 results from a few months ago stated "A350 deliveries from H1 2017"

JCX BXC

Tenger wrote: »

A350 has already been 'launched'. Currently 4 frames in the testing phase. Qatar to operate first scheduled flight later this year.

In EI terms the FY2013 results from a few months ago stated "A350 deliveries from H1 2017"

So the EI launch of the A350 will probably be 2023.

Tenger

Carnacalla wrote: »

So the EI launch of the A350 will probably be 2023.

EI do not currently need to A350, their A330 fleet has an average age of 7-8 years. Hence the push back from 2015 to 2017.
(Original date was 2014 but delays in the A350 program initially pushed those slots back to 2015)

Well if Airbus commit to a A330NEO EI could well switch to it. The A350 has approx 15-20% fuel savings over current aircraft. However it also is optimised for longer sectors (which EI do not need). The FY results did state that the 9 aircraft would be a mix of A350 and A350 Regional. (Which is the version with the software downgrade of the engines)

b757

It will be 2018 when she will be delivered according to the last update, since they converted the order to the regional version of the A350.

Tenger

b757 wrote: »

It will be 2018 when she will be delivered according to the last update, since they converted the order to the regional version of the A350.

Oh? Hadn't seen that. Last EI info I read on the matter was the results back in March. Do you have a link perhaps?

billie1b

Tenger wrote: »

Oh? Hadn't seen that. Last EI info I read on the matter was the results back in March. Do you have a link perhaps?

http://bloga350.blogspot.ie/2014/03/aer-lingus-will-have-mix-of-a350-900.html?m=1

Lovely aircraft, looks just like a B757

Tenger

billie1b wrote: »

Lovely aircraft, looks just like a B757

I saw a pic recently of the EI lounge in DUB....they have a model of a A350 in EI livery hanging from the ceiling.

I do really love the look of the A350 and that pic of the model looked impressive.

Jack1985

billie1b wrote: »

http://bloga350.blogspot.ie/2014/03/aer-lingus-will-have-mix-of-a350-900.html?m=1

Lovely aircraft, looks just like a B757

Thought that too until I saw this pic recently, can't get over the size difference
https://www.flickr.com/photos/35133216@N05/14382828689/

billie1b

Jack1985 wrote: »

Thought that too until I saw this pic recently, can't get over the size difference
https://www.flickr.com/photos/35133216@N05/14382828689/

Holy shít, thats mad, never thought it was that big, still a great looking bird though

Tenger

Jack1985 wrote: »

Thought that too until I saw this pic recently, can't get over the size difference
https://www.flickr.com/photos/35133216@N05/14382828689/

Jesus!!

Must be something to do with the length/width/height ratios being similar.....

.....same way the B787 looks smaller that it actually is due to the window and engine size compared to the overall fuselage size.

lord lucan

Tenger wrote: »

I saw a pic recently of the EI lounge in DUB....they have a model of a A350 in EI livery hanging from the ceiling.

I do really love the look of the A350 and that pic of the model looked impressive.

They're even using it in promo material such as the LHR T2 move.

Strumms

Carnacalla wrote: »

So the EI launch of the A350 will probably be 2023.

you base this on what ?

IRLConor

billie1b wrote: »

Holy shít, thats mad, never thought it was that big, still a great looking bird though

Tenger wrote: »

Jesus!!

Looking at the numbers, it's somewhere between a 772 and a 773 in terms of physical size. I didn't realise it was that large either.

Tenger wrote: »

Obviously the length/width/height ratios are similar..

Again, looking at the numbers it doesn't appear that the 752 ratios are that similar to the A359 ones. Perhaps it's something to do with the overall aesthetic?

Tenger

lord lucan wrote: »

They're even using it in promo material such as the LHR T2 move......]

Yeah, the OCD part of me wants to email EI and query their proposed A350 schedule to LHR

JCX BXC

Strumms wrote: »

you base this on what ?

It was more of a joke, They keep delaying the delivery of the A350 so I doubt Aer Lingus will want it in 2017.

LoonyLovegood

I reckon a lot of the delaying is better prices. Airbus want to get planes out to those who have big orders down, if Aer Lingus agree to move their slots back they've a chance of reduced prices.

Tenger

CTYIgirl wrote: »

I reckon a lot of the delaying is better prices. Airbus want to get planes out to those who have big orders down, if Aer Lingus agree to move their slots back they've a chance of reduced prices.

I would agree with Airbus wanting to get A350 out to those airlines who are unhappy with the delays so far. On the other side EI don't need their A350 so soon and taking a new aircraft does kick in the leasing costs associated with them. So I expect they would be amenable to pushing back their slots. I am not sure if they are getting a discount over this, as the pricing is already arranged. Perhaps it will allow EI more favourable pricing on a future A320/A321NEO order? Those B757's will need replacements in 3-4 years.

suasdaguna2

I agree with Tenger and Citygirl. Kicking the can up the road here may suit them. In reality it is a minuscule fleet compared to big operators, so taking on 350s when the 330s continue to do a decent job may suit.. At this juncture maybe another 330 300? Most Atlantic flights just jammers these days.

Razor44

Müller has already said that the 332 are too small for EI now. ...wonder how much interest he will have in a 330neo? Instead of the a350R

LoonyLovegood

Would the 330neo have the range to get to SFO though?

IRLConor

CTYIgirl wrote: »

Would the 330neo have the range to get to SFO though?

It should. The 330-200 does it at the moment, and Turkish Airlines sometimes use a -300 flying IST-ORD which is longer than DUB-SFO.

I would imagine that any more fuel efficient 330 variants would be well capable of doing DUB-SFO.

Tenger

CTYIgirl wrote: »

Would the 330neo have the range to get to SFO though?

Absolutely. EI use the A332 on the SFO route but their current A333 also have the range to make it.

Reading some stuff earlier today. The mooted A330NEO would use B787 or A350 engines and thus have a 8-10% reduction on current fuel burn figures. No range penalty. It seems Airbus were planning to announce in the next month or so...but the design/engineering team are still examining if it is worth the effort.

basill

We were told recently that the 300s would also be doing SFO from next year.

ProfessorPlum

:eek: