Airbus News Page 2
Airbus delivers first Pratt & Whitney powered A321XLR to Wizz Air
Wizz Air has taken delivery of its first of 47 A321XLR aircraft. The airline becomes the first in the world to operate the A321XLR powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, and the first European low cost operator of the type. Wizz Air’s A321XLRs have 239 seats in a single class configuration featuring the newly designed Airspace cabin with an innovative lighting system and multiple settings to create a perfect environment at different phases of the flight, including boarding, dining, relaxing, sleeping and waking up. With the A321XLR joining its fleet, Wizz Air is enhancing its capacity to connect Europe and the Middle East.
Vietjet orders 20 more A330neo widebodies for future expansion
Vietjet, Vietnam’s largest private airline, has placed a new order with Airbus for 20 widebody A330-900 aircraft to support strategic expansion over the next decade. The agreement was signed in Hanoi by Vietjet Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao and Wouter van Wersch, President Airbus International. The documents were exchanged in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, during an official visit to the country by the French Head of State.
Emirates Partners with Airbus to Enhance Fleet Efficiency and Reliability
Emirates has signed a partnership with Airbus to implement the Skywise Fleet Performance+ (S.FP+) predictive maintenance solution and Core X3 analytics platform, aiming to enhance the performance and reliability of its Airbus A380 and A350 fleets. The integration of real-time data will allow Emirates to monitor aircraft health, identify issues during flights, and minimize unplanned maintenance, increasing efficiency and reducing downtime. This move is part of Emirates’ strategy to optimize operational reliability and enhance the customer experience. The airline is also advancing its maintenance technology with innovations like drone-assisted inspections and virtual reality for aircraft servicing.
EcoPulse results suggest a bright future for hybrid-electric aviation
On a chilly day in mid-December, key stakeholders gathered together at a Daher hangar in Tarbes, in southwest France, to bid adieu to the EcoPulse demonstrator during a livestream wrap-up. A distributed hybrid-propulsion aircraft demonstrator, EcoPulse was designed and developed jointly by Airbus, Daher and Safran. Leaders from all three companies were on stage to share their perspectives on the programme, including Airbus’ own Jean-Baptiste Manchette, Head of Propulsion of Tomorrow.
STARLUX orders five more A350F freighters
STARLUX Airlines of Taiwan has placed a firm order with Airbus for five more A350F freighters. This doubles an initial order from the airline last year for five of the all-new cargo aircraft. The A350F fleet will be operated by STARLUX Cargo on some of the world’s busiest freight routes.
BAE Systems and Airbus collaborate on sustainable aircraft technology
BAE Systems (LON: BA) has signed an agreement with Airbus to provide the energy storage system for Airbus’ microhybridization demonstration project for commercial aircraft. The two companies will advance sustainable aviation by maturing and integrating electrification technologies that can reduce aviation’s carbon footprint.
Brussels Airlines bringing in more A320neos to replace A319s
Brussels Airlines is intending to introduce three more Airbus A320neos by summer 2026, as part of a fleet-renewal programme. The decision will take the A320neo fleet of the Lufthansa Group carrier to eight.
Air Canada orders five additional A220s
Air Canada, the national carrier of Canada, has signed a firm order with Airbus for five more latest generation single-aisle A220-300s on the fifth anniversary since taking delivery of its first A220 in December 2019. This follows an initial order in 2016 for 45 A220-300s and a reorder in 2022 for 15 more. Including this latest reorder, Air Canada’s total firm orders for the A220-300 stands at 65 aircraft.
Lufthansa Group purchases additional latest-generation long-haul aircraft
The Lufthansa Group is purchasing additional Airbus long-haul aircraft, increasing its firm orders for A350-1000 aircraft from ten to 15. The state-of-the-art aircraft of this order will be delivered between 2028 and 2031. The total value of the order is around two billion US dollars at list price. With a total of 60 A350-900s and 15 A350-1000s, the Lufthansa Group is one of the largest A350 customers worldwide.
China Airlines to Introduce Upgraded A350 Cabins in 2027
China Airlines, a Taiwan-based carrier, announced recently that Airbus has been contracted to provide integration and technical services for the retrofit of fifteen A350 aircraft. China Airlines is committed to providing travelers with the best sky service and the all-new A350 cabin, which launches in 2027, will feature the same Oriental aesthetic of the current cabins, creating an emotional connection with travelers while strengthening the China Airlines brand. The new cabin design will deliver an unparalleled flying experience.
SWISS to receive five further Airbus A350s
SWISS is to receive five further new Airbus A350-900 aircraft from 2027 onwards, in addition to the five which it already has on order. The new SWISS Airbus A350 fleet will be gradually delivered – complete with the new ‘SWISS Senses’ cabin interior – between summer 2025 and the end of 2031. Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is to take delivery of more new long-haul aircraft. In addition to the five Airbus A350-900s which are already on order, the airline is to receive five more of the advanced long-haul twinjet, as part of an overall investment by the Lufthansa Group.
National Airlines expands its wide-body passenger fleet with the recent addition of two A330-200’s
U.S.-based National Airlines announces the expansion of its wide-body fleet with the recent acquisition of two new A330-200 passenger aircraft. The airline took delivery of the second aircraft this month from CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (CDB Leasing). This latest aircraft addition aligns with National Airlines’ fleet modernisation and capacity enhancement strategy, offering premium charter passenger services to broader customer groups. The two A330-200 aircraft are in addition to the A330-300 aircraft, which the airline recently delivered.