US Airways firms up order for 20 A350s

US Airways firms up order for 20 A350s    US Airways Group, the merged entity of low-cost carriers US Airways and America West, has signed a contract for 20 Airbus A350 aircraft, following a commitment announced in May. No financial details were disclosed.
   The A350 plane is the mid-size long-haul competitor to Boeing’s new 7E7 Dreamliner. Scheduled to enter service in 2010, the A350-800 will be capable of flying 16,300 kilometers. Its larger sister, the A350-900, will fly 13,900 kilometers. Deliveries of the A350’s to US Airways will begin in 2011 and run through 2014.
   “When we restructured the airline, we knew we would need a new aircraft to grow with us, and the A350 truly fits the bill,” said Doug Parker, chairman, president and chief executive officer of US Airways.
   Airbus said it has so far received 155 orders and commitments for the A350 aircraft from 11 airlines.