by Lufthansa Flyer | Nov 18, 2016 | A350, Featured, Lufthansa, Munich, Technik |
Lufthansa has announced that their first Airbus A350 aircraft will be delivered on December 19.
The aircraft will be delivered directly to Munich where Lufthansa Technik will install the cabin interior and other proprietary enhancements. During this time, the aircraft will also be used for cabin and ground crew training.
Lufthansa’s First A350. It’s currently carrying an Airbus tail number, which will be changed to D-AIXA once LH accepts the aircraft.
Munich will be the hub where the ‘initial’ A350 fleet will be based. Lufthansa plans to assign the first 10 A350s to Munich as it begins replacing A340 aircraft. Current plans call for up to 25 A350s to join the fleet over the coming months and years. The tail number protocol for the A350 will be D-AIX_, with the first first A350 being registered as D-AIXA.
Once delivered, the aircraft will not enter passenger service until February 10, when the A350 will take over on the daily flight between Munich and Delhi. Boston will follow shortly thereafter but based on Lufthansa’s past history with new aircraft, expect the A350 to be put on ‘tour’ and flown to several destinations during its first months in service.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Mar 31, 2016 | A350, Featured, Lufthansa |
Earlier today, Lufthansa touted the virtues and benefits of the A350 that we’ve heard all along. However they are finally beginning to hint at where the new birds will fly to once they begin to enter service in January 2017.
The new piece of news was the fact that the first routes that will see the A350 appear to be Boston and Delhi. Keep in mind that the A350s will be a 3-class aircraft, comprised of Business, Premium Economy, and Economy Cabins. First Class will not be offered on ANY A350.
Since we are still 9 months away from even the most optimistic predictions regarding entry into service, I expect there to be several more changes to LH’s initial plans.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Mar 1, 2016 | A350, Featured, Fleet Update, Lufthansa, Munich |
The first pieces for the first A350 destined for Lufthansa are coming together.
In facilities scattered throughout Europe, components are being assembled and prepared for final assembly at Airbus’ facilities in Toulouse, France.
Fuselage components are being assembled in Hamburg (Finkenwerder) while the wings are built in the UK before being shipped to Stade and Bremen for their final assembly. The pieces will all gather in Toulouse where final assembly will take place. Engines will also be added once the aircraft has been assembled.
According to Airbus, over 50% of the A350’s fuselage and wings will be made from carbon fibre, leading to dramatic savings in weight and operating efficiencies.
If things go to plan, we’ll see the first A350 delivered to Lufthansa later this year. Lufthansa currently has 25 on order with an option to purchase an additional 30 aircraft. The A350 fleet will be based in Munich.
The photos below are all courtesy of Airbus and Lufthansa (apologies for the resolution due to source of the photos):
MSN 074 is the serial number assigned to LH’s first A350
The interior as seen in Hamburg
Fuselage components in Hamburg.
Fuselage components in Hamburg
Wing components in Bremen
Wing components in Bremen
Wing components in Bremen
