Two Chinese carriers have taken delivery of their first A350-900s. Both aircraft were handed over in Toulouse on 8th August.
Two Chinese carriers have taken delivery of their first A350-900s. Both aircraft were handed over in Toulouse on 8th August.
Air China became the first Chinese mainland customer to order and take ownership of the Airbus twin-engine widebody. It currently has orders for 10 A350-900s.
The Air China aircraft features a three-class cabin layout of 312 seats: 32 business, 24 premium economy and 256 economy. The airline will initially operate the aircraft on its domestic routes, followed by flights to international destinations.
As of July 2018, the Air China fleet included 201 Airbus aircraft, including 142 A320 Family aircraft and 59 A330 Family aircraft.
On the same day, Sichuan Airlines, the largest all-Airbus fleet carrier in China, took delivery of its first A350-900 leased from AerCap, becoming the first Chinese mainland operator via leasing to take delivery of the aircraft.
Sichuan Airlines’ A350-900 aircraft features a two-class cabin layout of 331 seats: 28 business, and 303 economy. The airline will initially operate the new aircraft on its domestic routes, followed by its international “Panda Routes”.
Sichuan Airlines operates an all Airbus fleet of 135 aircraft, including 123 A320 Family aircraft and 12 A330 Family aircraft. Sichuan Airlines signed a Letter of Intent for leasing four A350-900s in 2016, and in 2018 it signed an agreement with Airbus to order 10 A350-900s.