Airlines Cathay Pacific receives first A350-1000

During an event, held at Airbus in Toulouse (France), Cathay Pacific has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000. The aircraft, registered as B-LXA, is the first of 20 ordered A350-1000 for the airline.

To date, the Hong Kong based carrier has received 22 Airbus A350-900s. Both aircraft types are complementary and can be deployed in the same operational way. Passengers will enjoy similar cabin comfort, while Cathay Pacific chose the aircraft for its unmatched operating efficiency and fuel efficiency.

The A350-1000 features extended long-range capability. Cathay Pacific has announced, that it plans to deploy the aircraft on the new non-stop route between Hong Kong and Washington D.C. The flight will be 17 hours long and represents the longest flight by any Hong Kong based airline.

Paul Loo, Cathay Pacific Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, said: “We already have one of the youngest long-haul fleets in the sky, and with the arrival of the A350-1000, our fleet is only going to get younger. The aircraft follows the successful entry of the A350-900 variant which has enabled us to expand our long-haul network at a near unprecedented rate. The A350-1000 has an incredible range, is remarkably fuel efficient and quiet, provides customers with an unsurpassed cabin environment and has extremely attractive operating economics.”

Eric Schulz, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer, added: “We are proud to deliver the A350-1000 to our long-standing customer Cathay Pacific. Bringing major advantages in fuel and cost efficiency along with unrivalled passenger comfort, the A350-1000 is the perfect platform for Cathay Pacific to increase capacity on some of its longest routes. The combination of the world’s newest widebody and Cathay Pacific’s world famous in-flight service will ensure that the airline can strengthen its position even further as one of the world’s leading international carriers.”

Qatar Airways was the launch customer of the A350-1000 and received its first aircraft in February 2018. To date, Airbus has received 168 orders for its A350-1000. Recently, Singapore Airlines has announced, that it will resume its ultra-long-haul route between Singapore and New York, using Airbus A350-900ULR aircraft.

Cathay Pacific is the flag carrier of Hong Kong and has its headquarters at Hong Kong International Airport. The airline serves 77 destinations in 35 countries and is a member of the oneworld alliance. Its fleet consists of long-haul aircraft only, including 34 Airbus A330, 23 A350, 69 Boeing 777. Subsidiary Cathay Pacific Cargo operates with 20 Boeing 747 freighters, while Cathay Dragon uses 15 Airbus A320, eight A321 and 24 Airbus A330.