Qantas takes delivery of first new Airbus aircraft
Toulouse, 06 December 2002
Qantas has taken delivery of its first Airbus aircraft ever, an A330-200, thus becoming a new operator of the widely used A330/A340 Family.
The aircraft, which will fly on Australian domestic routes, was handed over to Qantas at a ceremony held in Toulouse today.
“Two years ago, when we chose Airbus A330s and A380s to modernise and grow our fleet, we knew that we needed larger, more economical and more modern aircraft,” says Group General Manager Engineering Technical Operations, David Cox. The A330 that we accept today begins a bright new era for Qantas, carrying more passengers, more economically, in more space and comfort - it is a great aircraft for our passengers and our business.”
Qantas has ordered a mix of 13 A330-200s and -300s, all of them powered by General Electric CF6-80E1s. The twin-engined A330-200s being deployed on domestic routes seat 38 passengers in business class and 265 in economy, providing a much needed increase in capacity.
“Qantas is perhaps the ultimate long-haul airline, flying some of the world’s longest routes, and it enjoys a well-deserved reputation for technical excellence, reliability and sound business sense, so we are naturally delighted at being part of its future, “comments John Leahy, Airbus Executive Vice President Customer Affairs. “Qantas was also the first airline to sign a contract for the four-engined A380, which it will fly on the ‘Kangaroo route’ between London and Australia, as well as on services across the Pacific.”
The Airbus A330/A340 family has the most popular cabin in its class, consistently leading in independent passenger surveys. It is also the most successful, with some 750 firm orders from more than 60 customers, and a route network that criss-crosses the globe with short, medium and long-haul routes.
The A380 is the world’s largest and most economical airliner ever, and is already beginning to take shape, as factories throughout Europe produce the first parts. With seating for some 550 passengers, it will introduce the world to a new way of flying, setting the standards for air transport in the 21st Century. Deliveries of the A380 begin in 2006. Firm orders for the Airbus A380 stand at almost 100, from many of the world’s most respected airlines, including 12 from Qantas.
The A330 and A380 feature the common cockpit that is now standard across the modern Airbus family, saving money in training and delivering flexibility in operation.
A leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive product line on the market, Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain as well as subsidiaries in the U.S., China and Japan. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS joint Company with BAE SYSTEMS.
