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News & Events

Headline news

The A350 XWB’s first flight: Fantastic…impressive…and quiet!

The world’s aviation sector moved to the rhythm of Airbus’ A350 XWB today as this new-generation jetliner performed its first flight – viewed by thousands of company employees, industry executives and aircraft enthusiasts at Toulouse, France, and followed on the Internet by a global audience.

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14 June 2013 Headline news

The world’s aviation sector moved to the rhythm of Airbus’ A350 XWB today as this new-generation jetliner performed its first flight – viewed by thousands of company employees, industry executives and aircraft enthusiasts at Toulouse, France, and followed on the Internet by a global audience.

Beginning its takeoff roll exactly on time at 10:00 a.m., the no. 1 A350 XWB smoothly rotated and climbed away from Runway 32L at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, ascending through scattered clouds as it was accompanied by a photo chase aircraft.

Operating on maximum takeoff power of its two Rolls-Royce Trent...

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Launch customer Air New Zealand gets its first A320 with Sharklets

Wing tip devices save up to four per cent in fuel

17 June 2013 Press Release

Air New Zealand has taken delivery of its first A320 equipped with fuel saving wing tip devices, or Sharklets, at a ceremony during the 50th Le Bourget Paris airshow. The aircraft was officially handed over to the airline’s Chief Flight Operations and Safety Officer David Morgan.

Airbus launched the Sharklet during the November 2009 Dubai air show, and Air New Zealand was the first to commit to the fuel saving devices.

Captain David Morgan says, “The A320 is at the core of Air New Zealand’s domestic fleet and the airline is committed to moving all domestic flying to this aircraft type to...

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Lufthansa firms up order for 100 A320 Family aircraft

Largest Airbus airline customer and operator in Europe

17 June 2013 Press Release

The Lufthansa Group has firmed up a previous Supervisory Board decision from March this year and signed for 100 A320 Family aircraft (35 A320neo, 35 A321neo and 30 A320ceo with Sharklets) at the Paris International Airshow in Le Bourget, France. 

The Lufthansa Group has been operating the A320 Family since October 1989. They were the launching customer for the A321 and belonged to the first operators of the A319 and A320. The new order confirms Lufthansa’s leading position as the largest Airbus airline customer and operator in Europe, increasing its order for the A320 type to 299. Over...

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DORIC Lease Corp signs landmark agreement for 20 A380s

A380’s strong asset value and market potential recognised by leading lessor

17 June 2013 Press Release

Doric Lease Corp has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the purchase of 20 A380s at the 50th Le Bourget Airshow. The agreement was signed today by Mark Lapidus, CEO of Doric Lease Corp and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.

With this investment, Doric will offer a tailored A380 leasing solution and will make the aircraft even more accessible to both new and existing A380 operators around the world who prefer to opt for the flexibility of an operating lease. Doric already has significant experience with the A380, ranking as the third largest wide-body lessor...

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ILFC orders 50 more A320neo Family aircraft

Repeat order from leading lessor confirms market preference for NEO

17 June 2013 Press Release

Industry leading aircraft lessor, ILFC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American International Group, Inc., has signed a firm contract for the purchase of 50 additional A320neo Family aircraft. The contract was announced today at the Paris Air Show by ILFC Chief Executive Officer, Henri Courpron and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.

ILFC was the first lessor to commit to the A320neo Family with a firm order placed in 2011 for 100 aircraft.  With this latest order, ILFC increases its total firm NEO order tally to 150. ILFC will make its engine selection for the aircraft...

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First A350 XWB successfully completes first flight

Aircraft and its engines perform excellently

14 June 2013 Press Release

The first A350 XWB to fly has landed back at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport France at 14.05 hours local time after successfully completing its first flight that lasted four hours and five minutes (245 minutes).

The aircraft was flown by Peter Chandler, Airbus’ Chief Test Pilot, and Guy Magrin, Project Pilot for the A350 XWB. Accompanying them in the cockpit was Pascal Verneau, the A350 XWB Project Test Flight Engineer. Monitoring the progress of the flight profile were the three flight test engineers: Fernando Alonso, Head of Airbus Flight & Integration Test Centre; Patrick du Ché, Head of...

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Featured story

Attention all future pilots! Let’s shop Airbus

17 June 2013 Feature story

As the A350 XWB prepares to shape the future of air travel following its recent first flight, Airbus is reaching out to the next generation of aspiring pilots who may be at the controls of this new innovative aircraft sometime in the future.

The company’s branded product boutique – called “Let’s shop Airbus” – has launched its new collection of “future pilot” merchandise, which features apparel, accessories and other items geared for youngsters with the dream to fly.   

While they may not be ready for the skies just yet, these aspiring pilots will feel closer to their goal by...

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News in brief

The no. 2 production A400M makes its maiden flight

11 June 2013

Airbus Military’s second production A400M – designated MSN8 – marked an important milestone this month with completion of the aircraft’s initial flight from Seville, Spain on 7 June. This new-generation military airlifter is planned for delivery to the French Air Force during the third quarter of 2013.

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