While the 777X offers unrivalled dimensions, advanced materials, and cutting-edge engine technology, the A350 shines with its lightweight composite airframe, advanced aerodynamics, and superior fuel efficiency.
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The A350 footprint is 52% smaller than that of the 747-400. When you combine the design and technology that Airbus have put into the build of the A350 with the efficiency of the Rolls Royce Trent XWB, you get the quietest, most efficient wide body long-haul aircraft in the skies.
Haven't flown those on BA, but the A350 is much quieter than the B777 and would be my choice for that reason alone. You're also likely to have a newer cabin, unless BA refurbished the 777s. Our flight between Denver and Heathrow is on an A350.
According to Commercial Pilot, the A350 offers pilots many benefits, such as improved fuel efficiency, increased passenger comfort, and the latest safety features. Additionally, the aircraft is reliable and efficient, and provides pilots with a modern and comfortable flight deck.
airbus a350-900This airplane has a range of 8,000 nautical miles and can fly for up to 17 hours without needing to refuel. It is one of the most fuel-efficient planes in the world, thanks to its lightweight carbon fiber construction and advanced engines.
The A350 XWB is Airbus' shiny, sexy twin-engined plane, built with combination of carbon composites, titanium and aluminium. It's powered by two ultra-quiet Rolls Royce engines. Its 'extra-wide' cabin is designed to make passengers feel as comfortable one can without flying in a private jet.
The A350 was designed to be a direct competitor to the Boeing 787-9 and 777-200ER. The original A350 design was publicly criticised by two of Airbus's largest customers, International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) and GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS).
The Dreamliner is slightly longer while the A350 is slightly wider, although both jets have identical maximum passenger capacities. In terms of performance, the A350 is ultimately a heavier aircraft with more fuel capacity and more powerful engines.
The Bottom Line: The Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 are very similar aircraft, suited for similar missions. As one would expect, the slightly larger A350-900 has a seat-mile cost advantage, while the 787-9 has an advantage in cost per block hour. These aircraft are competitive, and nearly tie in economic performance.
The Airbus A350 was developed in response to Boeing's successful 787 Dreamliner, aiming to offer equal or better range and efficiency. The aircraft features a wider cabin compared to the 787, allowing for high-density configurations if desired, and boasts quieter cabins and optimized air quality.
The A350 comes with larger and better positioned screens, providing enhanced visibility of information across the cockpit and extended interactivity for the Flight Crew.
Cracks in the painted surface exposed gaps in a sublayer of A350 lightning protection, prompting its regulator to ground 29 of the jets. Airbus, based in Toulouse, France, has acknowledged quality flaws but insisted the jets are safe.
The world's 2nd largest A350 fleetWith the airline now having 58 Airbus A350s, it holds on to its place as the operator of the 2nd largest A350 fleet - even if 12 A350-900s are still listed as parked. Qatar Airways previously had the largest A350 fleet in the world but eventually lost this title to Singapore Airlines.
Range and flexibility. Surprisingly, for all its size, the A380 can't go as far as the A350. The A350-1000 can travel more than 1,000 km (540 NM) further than the A380. Singapore Airlines has a special 'ultra-long-range' (ULR) A350-900, which operates on the longest route in the world, from Singapore to New York JFK.
Qatar Airways grounded Airbus A350s over what it described as fuselages “degrading at an accelerated rate” in the long-range aircraft. The airline had raised questions about the A350s' carbon composite fuselage, designed to make the twin-aisle aircraft lighter and cheaper to operate by burning less jet fuel.
The aircraft incorporates advanced noise reduction technologies and sound-insulating materials to minimize engine noise and vibrations. The result is an overall remarkably quiet cabin environment.
There are static ports on each side of the vertical fin that provide additional input to the FMC to suppress the effects of turbulence. Gust suppression is automatic with no input by the flight crew when the flight controls are in normal flight control laws mode.
On an Airbus A350, you can be flying at 35,000 to 40,000 feet, but the cabin will be at around 5,500 feet. (On a conventional aluminium aircraft, the cabin will be around 8,000 feet.) This helps with the effects of jet lag and how you feel after a flight too. It's less fatiguing.