First China Airlines A350 Being Prepared at French Plant

The first China Airlines A350 will begin final assembly at the Airbus plant in Toulouse. Delivery is scheduled for the third quarter of this year. The A350 is the most advanced Airbus passenger jet. This is also the first time that the latest generation of medium to long-range passenger jets has been introduced in Taiwan. In the future, China Airlines will upgrade its European long-haul routes such as Amsterdam, Vienna and Rome with the new generation of A350s to provide a healthy and comfortable travel experience. The larger space, higher ceiling, smart humidity and temperature control, increased seat pitch and wider seating will provide passengers with an additional hour of rest and better sleep on long trips.

 

The 14 new A350 passenger aircraft purchased by China Airlines have a cabin layout of 306 seats. The three cabin classes are Premium Business (32 seats) with raised ceilings and fully-flat seats, Premium Economy (31 seats) with extra space, and Economy Class with Family Couch seating (243 seats). The internal cross-section of the A350 has a diameter of 221" making it 8" wider than competitor models such as the 787. This gives each cabin class more room. In Business Class, apart from the increased seat pitch the unique open-plan, raised-ceiling design with no central overhead lockers increase the sensation of space by 55 cm. Premium Economy Class has 7 seats per row. Each seat is 20” wide and the seat pitch is as long as 39". Economy Class has 9 seats per row and uses the latest slim-back seating measuring 18". The perceived seat pitch is up to 34" giving passengers more legroom. Airbus research showed that increasing the seat width by 1" helped passengers fall sleep 6 minutes quicker and enhanced sleep quality by 53%. This translates to an additional hour of restful sleep. 

 

The cabin of the A350 features the latest technology to maintain cabin pressure at 6000 feet and humidity at 20%. This means passengers are less likely to suffer from headaches or dizziness on long-distance flights. Cabin temperature is divided into seven independently controlled zones. The air is fully exchanged every 2 - 3 minutes and medical-grade filters are used to remove any unpleasant odors, providing passengers with fresh air at all times. The cabin on the A350 is designed with sleek, large wide-angle windows that have 18% more area than previous models. The use of natural lighting increases light transmission by 40%, making the cabin feel more bright and airy.

 

The new Airbus A350-900 XWB (Xtra Wide Body) passenger aircraft has been praised for being the “most high-tech, most energy-efficient, most eco-friendly, most spacious and least noisy.” Advanced composite materials such as carbon fiber and metal alloys such as titanium make up 70% of the aircraft body. These effectively reduce the aircraft weight, increase aviation safety, and reduce fuel consumption by 25% to produce the most fuel-efficient aircraft in the world. The twin engines on the A350 can reach a cruising speed of 0.85 Mach, faster than competing models on the market. They enable longer range and higher payloads while reducing operating costs and carbon emissions by 25%. The A350 uses automated Noise Abatement Departure Procedures (NADP) for a 20% noise reduction compared to competing models. External noise is reduced by 21 Db making it the quietest of the new aircraft models.

 

The first China Airlines A350 is being assembled across six production facilities in Europe. The front, middle and rear aircraft fuselage, the main wings and vertical stabilizers were each prefabricated in Germany, England and Spain before being transported to Airbus headquarters in Toulouse. There they are painted with China Airlines’ livery as well as the “Plum Blossom” on the vertical stabilizer. Once the entire aircraft has been assembled it will be fitted with two cutting-edge Rolls-Royce engines. After the aircraft completes an extensive airworthiness certification process it will be prepared for delivery under the direction of a professional supervision team from China Airlines.

 

Deliveries of China Airlines’ A350s will begin in the third quarter of this year. They will initially be assigned to regional routes such as Hong Kong before they start flying long-haul European routes at the end of the year. The new aircraft will inherit the NexGen style based around the spirit of “Cultural Creativity, Technology, Environmental Protection, Emotional Connection and Trust”. The incorporation of creativity, youth and fashion elements will allow passengers to experience the latest and most comfortable high-altitude journeys in the industry and show them the service commitment to “Trustworthy, Customer First and Forever Pursuit of Excellence” at China Airlines. (2016/01/27)