Cathay orders 30 new Airbus A350-900from EADS
17 Sep 2010
Cathay Pacific Airways concluded the purchase agreement with aircraft manufacturer Airbus for the delivery of 30 new A350-900 aircraft, representing the airline's biggest-ever single aircraft purchase.
Cathay Pacific currently operates a fleet of 128 wide-body aircraft and with the Airbus A350 now has a total of 60 aircraft on firm order.
Last month the airline also expressed its intention to exercise existing purchase rights for six more Boeing 777-300ER ultra-long-haul aircraft, which would take its total order for the type to 36.
The new acquisition is valued at HK$60.84 billion at list price. Deliveries will begin in 2016 and are scheduled to stretch over a three year period.
"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," said Cathay Pacific CEO Tony Tyler joined Airbus.
"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."
