Cathay loads up on A350s

Cathay loads up on A350s    Cathay Pacific Airways will receive the first of 30 next-generation A350-900 long-haul aircraft in 2016 after signing a contract with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus on Thursday.
   The Hong Kong airline said the new planes would mostly operate on routes to Europe.
   The planes are worth $5.95 billion at list price, but airlines that make multiunit purchases typically receive substantial discounts.
   The mid-size, widebody plane is Airbus response to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, which quickly attracted airline orders, but has been plagued by production delays. The A350 is also being marketed as more fuel efficient, quieter and less costly to operate.

Tyler

   'The purchase of these new-generation aircraft is an important step in our plan to grow our fleet to ensure that we stay at the forefront of the industry. The A350 fits perfectly into our operation. Its passenger capacity, flight range and operating economics are just right to become the backbone of our mid-sized long haul wide-bodied fleet,” said Tony Tyler, Cathay chief executive officer, in a statement.
   Cathay operates a fleet of 128 widebody aircraft and has 60 aircraft on firm order, including the A350s.
   Airbus has 558 orders for the A350, which comes in three cabin classes ranging from 270 to 350 passengers. It has capacity for 28 LD3 lower-deck containers and nine pallets.