Fiji Airways takes delivery of its first of two A350 XWBs
Fiji Airways has become the first airline from the South Pacific region to take delivery of the A350 XWB.
Above:
(left to right) Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer Airbus; The Honourable Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Attorney General and Minister responsible for Civil Aviation; Dave Houlihan, President DAE Capital; Jacqueline Sutton, Chief Customer Officer Rolls-Royce; Andries Viljoen Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Fiji Airways.
Courtesy Airbus
The A350-900 - which was delivered following a ceremony in Toulouse - is the first of two A350 XWBs that will join Fiji Airways’ fleet. Both aircraft are being leased from Dubai-based DAE Capital. The aircraft are the first to be directly purchased by DAE Capital from Airbus.
Delivering new levels of fuel efficiency, Fiji Airways will operate the A350 XWB on its Nadi-Los Angeles and Nadi-Sydney routes. This will further boost the airline’s position as a leading carrier from the South Pacific region, as well as to contributing to the ongoing growth of Fiji’s tourism sector and wider economy.
Configured in a two class layout with 334 seats including 33 full flat business and 301 economy class seats, 39 of which are designated as BULA SPACE seats with extra legroom, passengers will have access to Thales' in-flight high definition entertainment systems.
Fiji Airways currently operates a fleet of six A330 Family and will benefit from the common type rating with the A350 XWB which allows pilots and crews to operate on both aircraft types.
At the end of October 2019, the Rolls-Royce powered A350 XWB Family had received 913 firm orders from 50 customers worldwide.