Qatar Airways : QR : QTR

Boeing adds orders for five 777s from Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways has ordered three more [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] 777 Freighters and two 777-300ERs, the two companies announced Wednesday.

Boeing had previously added the planes to its [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] — in 2010 and 2011, respectively — as being from an unidentified customer. The orders are worth $1.4 billion at list prices, although airlines get substantial discounts.
“Qatar Airways has made a significant commitment to the 777, an airplane which has become the flagship of our fleet,” Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said in a news release. “The capacity of the Boeing 777 Freighter is unrivaled and its economics make it an attractive addition to our fleet. It’s an opportune time to be introducing more cargo capacity to our fleet. As the State of Qatar and other parts of the region are growing at a phenomenal pace, we are well positioned to take advantage of this growth.”
Qatar Airways already has eight 777-200LRs, 15 777-300ERs and two 777 freighters.

Jeannot a écrit:Qatar Airways prend 5 777s supplémentaires (3 777F et 2 777-300ER)

Boeing adds orders for five 777s from Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways has ordered three more [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] 777 Freighters and two 777-300ERs, the two companies announced Wednesday.

Boeing had previously added the planes to its [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] — in 2010 and 2011, respectively — as being from an unidentified customer. The orders are worth $1.4 billion at list prices, although airlines get substantial discounts.
“Qatar Airways has made a significant commitment to the 777, an airplane which has become the flagship of our fleet,” Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said in a news release. “The capacity of the Boeing 777 Freighter is unrivaled and its economics make it an attractive addition to our fleet. It’s an opportune time to be introducing more cargo capacity to our fleet. As the State of Qatar and other parts of the region are growing at a phenomenal pace, we are well positioned to take advantage of this growth.”
Qatar Airways already has eight 777-200LRs, 15 777-300ERs and two 777 freighters.

A noter que ces commandes figuraient déjà chez Boeing comme "Unidentified Customers".

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]

Pour Info', ..... parce que c'est Qatar qui est client de lancement de l'A350-XWB !

Et c'est bien Qatar qui a, le premier, commandé la variante A350-XWB-1000 !

2. Airbus ponders slight larger A350-1000

The A350-1000 is aimed directly at the Boeing 777-300ER, but it is slightly smaller at 350 passengers vs 365 in typical three-class. Boeing, and others, question whether Rolls-Royce’s Trent XWB engine is big enough for the -1000 (Airbus, not surprisingly, said that it is). But we learned that Airbus is considering a 380 passenger -1000 and 50 miles more range to make it sure to do Dubai-Los Angeles non-stop. For this, the Trent XWB needs 5,000 lbs more thrust, and Rolls has been asked to figure this out.
In our view, this is the airplane Airbus needs to take on the -300ER.

Leahy said the Airbus 350-seat A350-1000 may need a more powerful engine to go further or carry more weight but that he opposed increasing its size. Emirates president Tim Clark has said he wants both more range and more seats.

Airbus ponders slight larger A350-1000

AirInsight a écrit: The A350-1000 – we hear consideration of growing the airplane to 380 seats and pushing the range to handle DXB-LAX year round to better compete with the 777-300ER.

LEAHY a écrit: “The idea of making a bigger A350 doesn’t appeal to me at all. Right now it depends on layout and layout is very important. The 777-300 has 15 more seats or they’re equal; it depends on 3 class, 4 class, 2 class configuration, etc.
So I’m not unhappy with the size. It’s the range payload that we want to be at least equal to or better than the 777-300ER. We want to have the same or better range, we want to have the same or better payload, and essentially the seat count where we are today.

LEAHY a écrit:That might require slightly more thrust than we have, a little bit more takeoff weight than we have right now.

LEAHY a écrit:You’ve heard Tim Clark and others suggest that we look into that. That’s exactly what we are looking into. That airplane comes out in a few years, we haven’t finished the final definition phase on the airplane but I wouldn’t be surprised to see more thrust and takeoff weight where we would be able to offer the range and payload of the 777-300ER with 25% lower fuel burn. That would be unstoppable in the market.“

But we learned that Airbus is considering a 380 passenger -1000 and 50 miles more range to make it sure to do Dubai-Los Angeles non-stop. For this, the Trent XWB needs 5,000 lbs more thrust, and Rolls has been asked to figure this out.

Qatar Airways to convert A330s to expand cargo unit

Qatar Airways, the Middle East’s second-biggest carrier, will convert 15 Airbus SAS A330 passenger jets into freighters to expand its cargo unit, CEO Akbar al Baker has said.
The aircraft will be converted by Airbus in Germany by 2016, according to Al Baker. Qatar Air’s dedicated freighter fleet currently comprises three Airbus A300s and two Boeing Co. 777s, with a third on order.
“By 2015 we want to be one of the major players in cargo,” the CEO said, adding that Qatar may also help meet the investment needs of Cargolux Airlines International, Europe’s biggest freight-only carrier, in which it is taking a stake.
The A330 delivery dates will depend on the availability of slots at Airbus’s German conversion plant, Al Baker said.

Plans to order more A380s

Qatar Airways, which has five Airbus A380s on order, plans to order additional superjumbos, Al Baker said.
"We are in negotiations to purchase additional A380 aircraft," he said without divulging further details.
The Doha-based carrier is also the largest customer for Airbus A350 XWB (extra wide body) with 80 aircraft on order, with the first one to join the airline's fleet when the new Doha International Airport opens, Al Baker stated. The carrier expects its fleet size to reach 120 aircraft within two years, with links to 120 destinations. It managed to increase its fleet size from 72 aircraft in December 2009 to 97 planes at present.
Analysts say they expect this to happen soon.
"I'm told that the A380 order will almost certainly be announced at next month's Paris Air Show and could comprise at least 20 firm orders for the type with a similar number on option. If I hear more, I will let you know," an industry analyst told Gulf News.

Jeannot a écrit:Qatar airways pourrait commander 20 A380s au Boruget et prendre 20 options.

Plans to order more A380s

Qatar Airways, which has five Airbus A380s on order, plans to order additional superjumbos, Al Baker said.
"We are in negotiations to purchase additional A380 aircraft," he said without divulging further details.

The Doha-based carrier is also the largest customer for Airbus A350 XWB (extra wide body) with 80 aircraft on order, with the first one to join the airline's fleet when the new Doha International Airport opens, Al Baker stated. The carrier expects its fleet size to reach 120 aircraft within two years, with links to 120 destinations. It managed to increase its fleet size from 72 aircraft in December 2009 to 97 planes at present.
Analysts say they expect this to happen soon.

"I'm told that the A380 order will almost certainly be announced at next month's Paris Air Show and could comprise at least 20 firm orders for the type with a similar number on option. If I hear more, I will let you know," an industry analyst told Gulf News.

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Percif a écrit:Bonsoir

Il est vrai que 15 slots sont libérés, quoi que les 10 ILFC...

Les rumeurs sur Qatar vont bon train, c'est le jeu.

10 + 10...ou 7 & 8

Ce ne sera plus du 194 m$US ( les premiers SIA ), mais le prix est bien négocié par Qatar AW, parait-il.

Les rumeurs sur une sélection possible de GP 7200 circulent aussi.

Des rumeurs...

• les salopards de Boeing & de GE, marchands de rumeurs totalement infondées s'il en fût,
  
• et "Entertainer Tim CLARK" d'Emirates , toujours tenté de se mettre en relief, en vitrine, dès qu'il qu'il y a un salon qui s'approche, et qui a raconté des fictions sur la motorisation de l'A350-XWB-1000, .....
  

• surtout des moteurs GEnx pour sa commande ferme de 30 avions B787 + 30 options, car jusqu'ici le document signé avec GE est un MoU et non pas une commande ferme, .....
  
• et, peut-être, pour la même raison (MoU à transformer en cde. ferme) d'un petit paquet de moteurs GE90-115B ou -110B, pour les B777-300ER & -200LR commandés plus récemment.
  

Me trompé-je, ou est-ce que mon impression est juste ?

La compagnie Qatar Airways est en "négociations avancées" pour une commande géante auprès d'Airbus pour des moyen-courriers A320 NEO et des très gros porteurs A380, qui pourrait être dévoilée au salon du Bourget en juin, selon Les Echos de vendredi.

© 2011 AFP

Jeannot a écrit:Airbus négocie une mégacommande avec Qatar

La commande porterait sur 50 A320neo et 10 à 20 A380 mais avec Qatar Airways méfions nous... Souvenons nous des commandes du CSeries prévues pour Farnborough l'année dernière.

Airbus négocie une mégacommande avec Qatar Airways

Airbus est en discussions avancées avec la compagnie aérienne Qatar Airways en vue d'une mégacommande de 50 A320neo, a rapporté vendredi le quotidien Les Echos dans son édition en ligne, sans mentionner de sources.
La compagnie aérienne pourrait en outre assortir sa commande d'une option pour encore à peu près le même nombre d'A320neo, selon le journal, qui ajoute que la commande pourrait être annoncée pendant le salon du Bourget en juin.
Les Echos indique que Qatar Airways est également en négociations en vue d'acheter entre 10 et 20 A380. La compagnie aérienne a déjà commandé cinq A380, et exploite une flotte d'A320 et d'A321.

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Weathering global turbulence

Qatar Airways' plans never get revised...we will always stick to our plans'

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Dubai: Qatar Airways expects to have 120 aircraft in its fleet within two years and routes to 120 destinations. The Doha-based carrier is also the largest customer for the Airbus A350XWB (extra wide body) with 80 on order.
This was achieved by the carrier in a very short time and it now poses a strong challenge to some of the world's bigger airlines.
Having a plan in place for everything, Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker tells Gulf News how the carrier plans to storm ahead despite industry pressures such as the volatility of fuel prices, geo-political unrest in the region and other such hurdles, and he also discusses the carrier's ambitious growth plans for the next few years.
Gulf News: How has the regional unrest affected Qatar Airways?
Akbar Al Baker: The unrest in North Africa and the tsunami and the earthquake in Japan have impacted us by nearly four per cent as far as our load factor is concerned. This, of course, is the figure for the first three months of the year. Since April 2011, it has started to rebound. And we hope that by next month, we will be back on track.
How did this affect the airline's revenues for the first quarter?
It affected the revenue. We recorded a four per cent decline in our revenues for the quarter and around 2.8 per cent in seat factor. So that means we held our yields to some extent. We would have made a lot more profit than what we made since it was the last quarter of our financial year.
Wasn't the airline compelled to change any of its plans due to the unrest?
No, we didn't need to revise any of our plans. Qatar Airways' plans never get revised. When we establish a plan, it's a very clear goal we want to achieve and we will always stick to our plans no matter what. How we operate is we already take a cushion in our business plan to any economic or political eventualities.
You said that you expect the fuel prices to go up further in the year. So do you see that impacting Qatar Airways' airfares?
A small percentage of this will be passed on to our passengers, like any other airline would do. And a part of it, we will have to hedge like we do continuously.
For the IPO, your earlier plan was to launch it in 2012-13. Now you're saying it's going to be either in 2013 or 2014. Why so? And what percentage stake are you looking to offload?
Well, it is in that timeframe. It could be next year. With regards to the stake percentage, it is to be decided by the owners of the airline.
How confident are you about making an aircraft order announcement this summer at the Paris Air Show? Have you zeroed in to any aircraft type?
It all depends on our negotiations with both the aircraft manufacturers as well as the engine makers.
As for the aircraft type, we are interested to look positively at two aircraft types — the Airbus A320 NEO (the re-engined version of the medium-range A320) and the Bombardier C Series.
Industry analysts have been hinting that Qatar Airways is contemplating firm orders for up to 20 Airbus A380s (plus 20 optional) during the forthcoming Paris Air Show in June. Could you confirm this?
It would not be that much. But we have said we would be ordering more A380s this year. Do I see these being announced at the air show in Paris? I hope so. But I am not sure as we are still negotiating.
Now that the economy has recovered, what is the status with your plans to launch an all-business class service that you talked about a couple of years ago?
We are still thinking of it. But it will not be an all-business class airline. It would be an all-business class aircraft which we will use on certain routes where we have very high demand from premium cabin besides having an open skies agreement with that country, or we have extra frequencies. At least six countries in our network fit that category today.
Airbus has indicated there would be delays to its A350 XWB (extra wide body) programme. Does that not bother you, with Qatar Airways being the largest customer (with 80 on order) for the aircraft type?
Yes, there would be delays to the A350 XWB programme in our opinion but it doesn't concern us. Well, it affects our business plan and our fleet rollover. The only thing we will have to do is use our current aircraft for a bit longer.
Will you consider any Boeing aircraft if there are further delays to the A350 XWBs?
No, we will not. We already have 60 Dreamliners (787s). So if there are delays we can always exercise our purchase rights.
How much have the delays to Boeing 787s cost Qatar Airways in terms of lost revenue?
Quite a significant amount — nearly hundreds of millions of dollars. Giving out these exact figures would be detrimental to our claims, if any, from Boeing. We expect to receive a pair of these aircraft [787s] in February 2012.
Could it be even earlier than that?
No. We have a stream of deliveries. The deliveries for this airplane was supposed to start and finish by 2013. Now, we are only starting in 2012. So it will rollover until 2015-2016.
Those are the aeroplanes that may be delivered to us earlier. But the first aircraft will be delivered to us when they have specified. We would receive five of these [787s] next year and there could be more provided Boeing ramps up the Charleston facility.
What is the status with your claims?
We have no claim at the moment. We settled previously. But if the delay keeps on creeping then, of course, we will claim.
How much did the airline receive in compensation?
I cannot disclose this as we have an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) with Boeing and we respect that. And they [Boeing] respect the NDAs they have with us.
Emirates has been around for a couple of decades more than Qatar Airways. What is it like to be always chasing one of the biggest international airlines in the world?
We are not chasing, we are just expanding. We have a plan, they [Emirates] have a plan. We don't need to chase them, we don't need to chase anybody. If you notice, we go to destinations they don't go to. And they also go to destinations after us — where we go. So it's not a question of chasing but a question of how we our plans and how we stick to our plans for expansion.
You have expressed intentions a number of times for Qatar Airways to launch a low cost arm. When exactly will you do that? Won't you be too late in joining the LCC bandwagon with flydubai aggressively expanding its wings?
We will not do anything that will hurt our core airline business, which is a full service airline. We will only do it if our market share is being eroded. And we will launch as soon as we see that is happening. Up until now, it is not.
Do you plan to launch any Airbus A380 services into India?
No, we never planned to launch A380 into India. I don't think the Indian aviation infrastructure will permit operations of A380.
What are your targets for A380 fleet in the long run?
Our target for the A380 is to operate to selected ultra long routes and mostly slot restricted airports.
What are your financing plans for the year?
We have no financing plan at the moment because Qatar Airways does not buy aeroplanes anymore. It is bought for Qatar Airways by our leasing arm. And the leasing arm's owner is the Qatar Investments Authority.

The future: Airline Profile
. Worldwide Network: 100 destinations
. Expansion in 2011: 15 new destinations (5 launched already)
. Fleet on Order:
- 80 Airbus A350s
- 60 Boeing 787s
- 12 Boeing 777s
- 14 Airbus A320s
- 5 Airbus A380-800s
- 1 Bombardier Global 5000
- 1 Bombardier XRS
- 1 Challenger 605

Akbar Al Baker
Instrumental in shaping the development of Qatar Airways into one of the fastest growing and most highly acclaimed airlines in the world, Akbar Al Baker, a Qatari national, is a graduate in Economics and Commerce and has worked at various levels in the Civil Aviation Directorate before assuming his role as the airline's chief executive in 1997.
Al Baker has, over the last decade, spearheaded the growth of Qatar Airways, which operated only four aircraft in a regional capacity prior to his appointment.
The airline currently flies to over 90 destinations across six continents. He is also leading the development of the multi-billion dollar New Doha International Airport, which is scheduled to open by 2012.

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] plans to increase its orders for the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] at next month's [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], and should also finally conclude a deal for the freighter conversion of its [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] passenger fleet. The airline currently holds orders for five A380s, with the first delivery scheduled for 2013.

CEO Akbar Al Baker said he plans to sign "a small order" for additional A380s, with the size still to be finalised but "it won't be a hundred aircraft".

Qatar Airways originally placed its order for the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] double-decker in 2001 but deliveries have been progressively pushed back - both at the airline's request and because of production problems. Engine selection is still outstanding, although Al Baker says he expects to choose between Engine Alliance and Rolls-Royce by early next year.

The airline also looks set to resolve its long-running row with Airbus over the conversion of its 29 [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and -300s to freighters. Its A330-200s are due to be replaced from 2012 by [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] 787s, and Al Baker has been pushing Airbus to launch a "P2F" cargo conversion programme. Although the airframer has been looking to launch a -300P2F conversion, it has been reticent about including the -200 at this stage, claiming insufficient "feedstock" of aircraft to justify a launch.

However, sources familiar with the situation indicate it has also been concerned that the availability of an A330-200P2F could further dampen demand for the already slow-selling new-build -200F. Al Baker said he expects to make an announcement with Airbus at Paris about an A330P2F deal. Once converted, Qatar Airways intends to transfer the A330Fs to its leasing arm. Some of these aircraft are earmarked for operation by its own cargo division, while others will be offered for lease to third parties.

Al Baker said one recipient could be Luxembourg-based [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], with which Qatar Airways is finalising a deal to acquire a 35% stake.

The transaction should "hopefully" be completed in early June, Al Baker says, once regulatory approval is received.
"I will then be able to disclose more details about the tie-up," Al Baker adds.

"Wait & see", donc !

Airbus reaffirmed on Thursday the first delivery date for its A350 passenger jet, but one of its airline customers forecast two of three variants of the aircraft would be delayed six months, according to a report. The head of Airbus parent EADS told shareholders in Amsterdam the first delivery would be in the second half of 2013 as previously stated, but it remained "challenging."

Airbus recently delayed the target date from mid-2013.

The first A350 is expected to be the 314-seat A350-900, the middle model of the aircraft, which ranges between 270 and 350 seats.

In its Friday edition, Le Figaro quoted Cathay Pacific chief executive John Slosar as saying the two other models needed technical refinement and could be delayed six months.

Cathay recently ordered 30 A350s.

Oui ; de la variante A350-XWB-900, soit la première à être lancée, construite et livrée ! Qu'en sait-il des autres, qui, à ce stade, ne le concernent pas ? Pas grand-chose ! En tout cas, ... pas plus que nous ! Qu'il sr taise, et qu'on ne gobe pas ce qu'il raconte ! Ce ne vaut pas plus que la discutaille au coin du Comptoir du Café de la Gare !

Airbus has been under pressure from airlines such as Emirates to beef up the A350-1000 to make it more competitve with Boeing's 777, ........

.....but this could require costly changes to its Rolls-Royce engines.

(Reuters)

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] will begin a short flight-test programme of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]'s Rolls-Royce Trent XWB on the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] development aircraft early next year, ahead of engine certification at the end of 2011.

The new Trent engine, which is the only powerplant option offered on the A350, will be installed in one of the inboard positions on Airbus's [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]-powered A380 development aircraft (MSN001) later this year and begin flight-testing early in 2011. "We will fly a short flight-test programme of around 100h," says Airbus's flight-test chief Fernando Alonso. The tests will be focused on engine, nacelle and powerplant system integration.

R-R says that ahead of the A380 flights, a Trent XWB will begin ground-testing in June.

........The A350 is due to fly in early 2012 and enter service with [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in the second half of 2013.

The initial version of the Trent XWB is rated at 84,000lb thrust (374kN) to power the baseline [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] variant.
This engine will be offered as a derate of 79,000lb or 74,000lb thrust to power the smaller [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]. A 93,000lb-thrust development of the engine will power the larger A350-1000 variant, which is due to enter service in 2015.

Voilà la réalité à ce stade !

Et le RR Trent XWB est conçu comme un moteur d'une poussée de 95,000 lbs. Et la valeur dite "de 93,000 lbs" est, en réalité de l'ordre de 92,300 lbs max. ; il reste encore 2,700 lbs de poussée unitaire dans la configuration normale / 'standard' prévue pour le moteur !

(Correction pour préciser que le patron de Cathay Pacific a parlé d'un possible retard mais sans en préciser l la durée, la mention d'un délai de six mois étant une estimation du Figaro)

EADS (EAD.PA: [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]) (EAD.DE: [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]) a confirmé jeudi la date de première livraison pour l'Airbus A350, mais une des compagnies aériennes clientes estime que deux ou trois variantes de cet appareil pourraient être retardées, rapporte Le Figaro à paraître vendredi.

Le quotidien cite le président exécutif d'EADS, Louis Gallois, qui a déclaré devant les actionnaires du groupe à Amsterdam que la première livraison aurait lieu au second semestre 2013 comme cela avait déjà été dit. "Des étapes décisives ont été franchies", a indiqué Louis Gallois, mais ce programme risque de faire face à "des difficultés à surmonter dans les années à venir".

Airbus a récemment présenté cette date de second semestre 2013 alors qu'il avait évoqué auparavant la mi-2013.

Le premier A350, destiné à Qatar Airways, devrait être l'A350-900 d'une capacité de 314 sièges, soit le modèle moyen de la série.

Selon John Slosar, le patron de la compagnie Cathay Pacific (0293.HK: [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]), cité par Le Figaro, les deux autres modèles, l'A350-800 et l'A350-1000 ont besoin d'améliorations techniques et pourraient être retardés. Cathay a commandé 30 A350.
Le Figaro évoque un retard qui pourrait atteindre six mois.

Certaines compagnies aériennes comme Emirates ont demandé à Airbus d'améliorer l'A350-1000 pour le rendre plus compétitif face au Boeing 777, mais cela pourrait nécessiter des changements coûteux en ce qui concerne les réacteurs fabriqués par Rolls-Royce (RR.L: [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]).

"Airbus a des améliorations techniques à faire et il y aura du retard", a déclaré John Slosar, selon le quotidien.
(Leila Abboud, Tim Hepher, Gérard Bon et Danielle Rouquié, édité par Nicolas Delame)

toujours pas grand-chose !

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] is to confirm plans at the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] for a significant redesign of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]-1000 in an effort to increase the largest XWB variant's competitiveness with the rival [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].
Flightglobal understands that the update centres on engine, wing and weight changes to boost payload-range.

The 350-seat A350-1000 is the last of the three main XWB variants in the initial development plan, with service entry officially slated for the end of 2015.
It has been undergoing a major design review as Airbus engineers work to finalise the aircraft's configuration and performance as part of the definition effort. This phase of development is due to conclude with the "detailed definition freeze" at the end of 2011.

Key A350 customers are being briefed by Airbus on the revamped design ahead of the Paris air show, when the airframer is due to provide a public update.
Sources familiar with the situation indicate that the aircraft has undergone some significant changes, central to which is the acceptance by sole engine supplier Rolls-Royce to redesign the version of the Trent XWB that will power the A350-1000.

Originally slated to be a slightly modified version of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]/900's 75,000-84,000lb thrust (374kN) Trent XWB variant rated at 93,000lb thrust, Flightglobal understands that the engine will now incorporate a revised core to deliver a significant boost in thrust towards 98,000lb.

The option of enlarging the fan is understood to be problematic due to wing-to-ground clearance issues.
"Rolls has accepted that it must increase the engine thrust," said Akbar Al Baker, chief executive of A350-1000 launch customer [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

The original plan for the A350 wing was for it to be common wing across all three variants, with changes on the -1000 limited to trailing edge extension of around 400mm (16in). Airbus is is now understood to have decided to enlarge the wing further as part of the wider redesign.

In parallel, Airbus has raised the -1000's maximum take-off weight above the current 298t, which is understood to have delivered a 500nm (925km) boost in payload-range to an estimated 8,500nm. The revisions are believed to have pushed planned service entry into 2016. "We'd like increased take-off weight and increased range," said Al Baker.

Sized to compete with the 777-300ER, ....

.....there have been pressure from some quarters - notably Emirates chief Tim Clark - for Airbus to boost the -1000's payload-range to make it a better proposition.

While these changes look to address that, former International Lease Finance chief Steve Udvar-Hazy, who previously pushed Airbus to redesign the original A350 five years ago, does not yet view the A350-1000 as a genuine 777-300ER rival. "There is some overlap, but I see it more as a replacement for the operators of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]," he said.

Airbus currently holds orders for 75 A350-1000s from four customers - Qatar Airways and Emirates each with 20, [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] with 25 and Asiana with 10. Neither Airbus nor Rolls-Royce are commenting ahead of the air show.

Jeannot a écrit:En attendant les annonces officielles voci plusieurs reflexions personnelles (pur DPO) :

• Le fait de retarder le 800 est peut être un bien dans la mesure où il permettrait de le peaufiner et d'obtenir un avion plus "light" et plus économique
  
• le nombre de commandes du 800 est je crois de 140 parmi lesquelles il faut compter 13 exemplaires pour des lessors qui ne seront pas contre la fait d'avoir un avion meilleur.

Jeannot a écrit:

• Parmmi les autres commandes on trouve 6 pour Afriqiyah, 3 pour Tunis Air, 4 pour Lybian Airlines et 10 pour Yemenia. Ces compagnies se heurtent actuellement a des difficultés liées a l'environnement politique. Alors...

Jeannot a écrit:

• Pour les autres il restera l'option 900 à un prix spécial...

Jeannot a écrit:

• En attendant il y a encore le 330 qui fait un bon travail...

Jeannot a écrit:

• Pour le 1000 la réflion est à peu près la même dans la mesure où des lessors et des clients ont demandé cette modification.

Jeannot a écrit:

• Ce décalage du 1000 met un peu plus Boeing dans l'incertitude par rapport à son choix cornélien pour décider du prochain avion à lancer...

A ce jour, il n'y a aucun risque d'annulation sur les commandes en mains de cet appareil !D'autres commandes arriveront, .... même si ceci n'est pas forcément le cas pour le Salon du Bourget 2011 !

Selon nos sources, la mise en service de l'A350-800 et l'A350-1000, est désormais prévue en 2016 et 2017. A la demande des compagnies du Golfe, la version 1000 est améliorée avec de nouveaux moteurs.

Le calendrier est très tendu. Mais la mise en service de la première version de l'Airbus A350, l'A350-900 (314 sièges), est toujours prévue au deuxième semestre 2013. En revanche, les deux autres versions de ce biréacteur long-courrier, l'A350-800 (270 sièges en configuration tri-classes) et l'A350-1000 (350 sièges), initialement prévues pour 2014 et 2015, sont, selon nos informations décalées de deux ans.

Leur mise en service est désormais programmée en 2016 pour l'A350-800 et au deuxième trimestre 2017 pour l'A350-1000. La direction d'Airbus comptait faire une annonce ce week-end à la veille du salon aéronautique du Bourget.

L'A350-800, qui ne constitue pas la priorité d'Airbus malgré ses 140 commandes au compteur (contre 359 et 75 pour les versions 900 et 1000), sera retravaillé pour être amélioré.

Sans que cela passe par de lnouveaux moteurs.....

.....comme cela va être le cas pour l'A350-1000.

Rolls Royce, le seul motoriste présent sur le programme A350, prépare en effet un moteur Trent de 97.000 livres de poussée, contre 94.000 livres prévus jusqu'ici.

"Cela devrait lui permettre d'augmenter son rayon d'action d'environ 400 miles nautiques (740 kilomètres)", pré)cise un proche du dossier.

L'A350-1000 pourra donc franchir des distances de 15.556 kilomètres. Suffisamment pour faire gonfler le potentiel de routes à exploiter avec cet appareil, en particulier pour les compagnies du Golfe et d'Asie-Pacifique. D'ailleurs, toutes ces améliorations, qui devraient également permettre d'augmenter l'emport de marchandises en soutes, sont réalisées à la demande des compagnies du Golfe. Etihad, la compagnie d'Abou Dhabi (25 exemplaires), ces concurrentes de Dubai Emirates et du Qatar (20 exemplaires chacune), sont les seules compagnies clientes de l'A350-1000 aux côtés de la coréenne Asiana Airlines (10 avions commandés).

"Avec ces meilleures performances, nous comptons gagner des parts de marché à Boeing en Asie sur le marché des long-courriers de grande capacité", explique une source interne chez Airbus. Ces gains permettront en effet au constructeur européen d'augmenter ses chances de concurrencer le B777-300 de Boeing, le meilleur avion long-courrier aujourd'hui sur le marché, notamment dans sa version à très long rayon d'action (ER pour "extended range"). Surtout, avec ce nouveau calendrier, la mise en service de l'A350-1000 risque de coïncider peu ou prou avec celle d'une version améliorée du B777-300 ER. Equipé de nouveaux moteurs General Electric, ce dérivé, qui répond aujourd'hui au nom de code "9X", pourrait être lancé à l'horizon 2017-2018.

Airbus is to postpone entry into service of the A350-1000 by two years, to mid-2017, in order to provide a thrust increase to 97,000lb (431kN) from the previous level of 93,000lb.

It is also delaying introduction of the A350-800 by a similar timeframe, pushing its entry back until mid-2016.
Airbus has been under pressure to bring the A350-1000's performance more into line with that of the Boeing 777-300ER.
With the additional power the -1000 will gain 400nm range with 350 passengers or another 4.5t in payload. The A350-1000's maximum take-off weight will increase from 298t to 308t, and its list price will rise by $9 million as a result of the changes.

Rolls-Royce is also to become the exclusive engine supplier on the -1000.

Airbus is retaining the same fuselage size on the twinjet: a five-frame stretch aft of the wing and a six-frame stretch forward, compared with the A350-900.

The aircraft will have an "optimised, not new" wing, said Airbus chief operating officer Fabrice Bregier, speaking at an EADS seminar ahead of the Paris air show.

It will retain "close to 100% hardware commonality" with the A350-900, he added. The A350-900, the first of the three-member family to be developed, will make its first flight at the end of 2012.

Rescheduling the development of the two other models will allow planning and resources for the A350-1000 to be sequenced around the development of the re-engined A320neo, which is due to become available in 2015, when the -1000 was also originally planned to arrive.

The postponement will allow technology insertion and earlier improvements to the -1000 based on A350-900 test results.

Airbus chief operating officer for customers John Leahy said the -1000 would be able to compete "very nicely" against the Boeing 777-300ER. Despite the -1000's having 15 fewer seats than the 365-seat 777-300ER, Leahy said it would offer 600nm additional range and burn 25% less fuel on a 4,000nm journey. The -1000 was "now in a class of its own", he added.

Rolls-Royce said the higher-thrust Trent XWB engine to power the -1000 will incorporate benefits derived from the manufacturer's Advance 3 technology demonstrator programmes.

Civil aerospace division president Mark King stated that the company knew from early testing of the powerplant that it could offer an improved version.
The XWB engine was beating targets for internal aerodynamic efficiency, specific fuel consumption and generating cooler turbine temperatures.

"Having seen demand from customers, having seen what's happened on test bed, we [thought we had] other options," he said. "When we saw what this aircraft could do with an engine like that, we had no hesitation."

King said the manufacturer had the capability to build a larger core to increase thrust to 97,000lb with the same fan diameter and without an impact on fuel burn.

There are six XWB engines undergoing tests, he said, and added: "The compressor is by far the best compressor the world has ever seen."

King said that while Rolls-Royce had secured exclusivity on the -1000, the company had "never sought" a similar arrangement on the -800 and -900 - although it remains the only engine supplier for all three variants of the A350.

"We set out from the beginning to demonstrate, by our actions, that there's no need for another engine," King said.

Flight-testing of the Trent XWB, on an Airbus A380, is to take place this year. Final assembly of the first member of the A350 family, the -900, is set to start at the end of 2011 with the maiden flight having been set back to the end of 2012.

Bregier is optimistic over progress on the programme. He said Airbus had managed to "get through all the traps" of manufacturing the large composite parts which are crucial to its fuselage and wing structure.
Qatar Airways is the launch customer for all three variants of the A350.