Building on a record year (2014)

Airbus marked another aviation milestone with the 25 September first flight of its A320neo, the fastest-selling commercial airliner ever – which performed an approximately two-and-a-half-hour evaluation that began and concluded at France’s Toulouse-Blagnac Airport.

This first flight activity officially kicked off the NEO flight test and certification programme, which is to include some 3,000 flight hours across eight aircraft: two A320neos, one A321neo and one A319neo for each of the two latest-generation engine types (Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1100G-JM and the CFM International LEAP-1A).

The NEO project’s many innovations, including the two engine choices and standard Sharklet wingtip devices, result in up to 20% fuel savings – while sharing 95% commonality with A320ceo (current engine option) aircraft.

At the end of the year, the company had accumulated more than 11,514 orders for its best-selling single-aisle product line, including more than 3,621 A320neo aircraft from 70 customers worldwide.

Airbus’ next-generation A350 XWB jetliner is now ready to shape efficiency for the future of flight – with delivery of the first A350-900 aircraft to global launch customer Qatar Airways in December. This historic handover was marked during a 22 December ceremony in Toulouse, France – which was attended by high-level management from Airbus, Airbus Group, Qatar Airways and Rolls-Royce, as well as international media.

With its no. 1 A350 XWB aircraft, Qatar Airways also becomes the world’s first airline to have taken delivery of every member of Airbus’ market-leading wide-body product line – which comprises A350 XWB, A380 and A330 jetliners.

In key steps leading up to the initial A350 XWB customer delivery, the A350-900 received its Type Certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on 30 September and subsequently from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on 12 November. These approvals followed a fast-paced 14-month certification programme – during which Airbus performed over 2,600 flight hours with its five-aircraft test fleet.

The A350 XWB – which has accumulated 780 orders from 40 customers through December 2014 – incorporates the latest innovations in aerodynamics, lightweight materials and aircraft systems, along with an extra-wide cabin and new fuel-efficient and quiet Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines to deliver unrivalled passenger comfort and superior operating economics.

As one NEO programme counted down to its maiden flight, another began in 2014 with Airbus’ launch of the A330neo – which builds upon the dependable A330 Family’s proven economics, versatility and reliability, while reducing fuel consumption by a further 14% per seat.

Powered by latest-generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the A330neo is composed of two versions: the A330-800neo and A330-900neo, which have the same fuselage length of today’s A330-200 and A330-300 current engine option jetliners, respectively. In addition to the fuel burn reduction, these two NEO aircraft will expand operators’ market opportunities with a range capability increase of approximately 400 nautical miles while carrying more payload.

The A330neo is the latest evolution of Airbus’ A330 to meet requirements of a global customer base. In addition, the company has further enhanced its A330 product line by offering an increased takeoff weight of 242 tonnes – with the first such A330-300 variant entering final assembly in November – while a lower-weight A330-300 Regional version is being developed for use on domestic and regional routes in high growth markets.

Airbus unveiled the A330neo at the Farnborough Airshow in July, during which it announced new business for 496 aircraft across the product line – representing the company’s best-ever performance at this biennial industry event. In addition to the 121 A330neo commitments received, orders and commitments were confirmed for Airbus’ A320, A330 and A350 XWB product lines.

Now in its sixth year of commercial service, the Airbus A380 continues to exceed expectations as its global operator base grows, with Asiana Airlines, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways receiving their first of these double-deck jetliners in 2014.

Etihad Airways became the latest customer to take delivery of an A380, with this Abu Dhabi-based carrier utilising the double-deck airliner’s spacious interior to equip its aircraft with The Residence by Etihad™ three-room suite, which is the world’s first private multi-room cabin on a commercial passenger airliner. Its aircraft also have fully-private suites in its First Apartment section and the latest cabin advances for travellers in the new Business Studio and Economy Smart Seat classes. The initial A380 was delivered to Etihad Airways in December.

Qatar Airways joined the ranks of airlines with Airbus’ 21st century flagship during a September handover ceremony at Airbus’ Hamburg, Germany site. Citing the A380’s “mighty wings,” Qatar Airways Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker said the A380 – with its unrivalled efficiency and space – will support the carrier’s expanding operations and signature service standard.

Asiana Airlines’ no. 1 A380 aircraft was handed over during a ceremony held in Toulouse, France on 26 May. The South Korea-based carrier was the 11th worldwide operator to receive Airbus’ 21st century flagship – a key element in Asiana Airlines’ future vision and fleet modernisation strategy. 

Airbus underscored its commitment to the well-being of passengers who fly on its aircraft with its focus on “comfort without compromise.”

Highlighted during a worldwide campaign in 2014, this new messaging underscores Airbus’ modern standard for comfort – 18-inch wide seats in full-service economy class – which provide superior comfort for travellers, while still offering airlines unrivalled operating economics and fuel efficiency.  The company’s standard 18-inch wide seats for full-service economy travel provide an additional inch of room compared to the 17-inch 1950s-era norm, which is still used by other aircraft manufacturers today.

Airbus is also a leader in other aspects of cabin comfort, including innovative features such as LED mood lighting, connectivity and optimal air circulation.

Airbus’ new U.S. A320 Family final assembly line in Mobile, Alabama – a significant element in growing the company’s global industrial footprint – continued to progress towards the start of aircraft assembly operations, scheduled to begin in 2015. Construction work neared completion in 2015, with hiring and training activities also underway.

Airbus’ “game-changing” U.S. A320 Family facility underscores its commitment to the American marketplace – one of the largest for single-aisle aircraft in the world – and will be the company’s fourth final assembly line worldwide for its single-aisle jetliner product line. First aircraft deliveries from the Alabama site are targeted for 2016, with the facility anticipated to produce between 40 and 50 jetliners annually by 2018

Airbus achieved key milestones and further strengthened its mutually beneficial cooperation with China this year. In December, an event at the company’s Airbus Tianjin Final Assembly Line (FALC) marked the site’s 200th jetliner assembled – an A319 handed over to China Eastern Airlines.

The company also laid a foundation for its future cooperation with China by signing agreements during a March ceremony in Paris, witnessed by visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President François Hollande. As part of the agreements, Airbus and its Tianjin Free Trade Zone and Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) partners extended the successful joint venture to assemble Airbus single-aisle aircraft in China for an additional 10 years – covering the 2016-2025 timeframe, during which the final assembly line’s capabilities will be further developed.

Airbus, the Tianjin Free Trade Zone and AVIC also took steps to establish the A330 Completion and Delivery Centre in Tianjin – which was reconfirmed with the signing of a letter of intent in October. This new facility likely will cover activities such as cabin installation, aircraft painting, engine runs and aircraft delivery.