Aeroflot orders Airbus A350s

The Russian flag carrier

signed today the Memorandum of Understanding for 22

A350XWB aircraft. Aeroflot’s decision brings the total number of orders and commitments for the Airbus A350XWB to 248. Aeroflot will also further increase its Airbus fleet with ten new A330-200s, which will be acquired on operating lease.

Aeroflot was the first Airbus customer and operator in Russia, with A310s entering service back in 1992. It was also the first airline in the CIS to operate the A319 and A321. Aeroflot currently operates 26 A320 Family aircraft.

Airbus says the A350XWB family of aircraft will be available in three basic passenger versions, carrying between 270 and 350 passengers with ranges up to 15,750km, at a cruise speed of Mach 0.85. There will also be a freighter version as well as an extra long-range passenger version.

According to its latest Global Market Forecast, Airbus estimates the demand for passenger and freighter aircraft in this category, for the next 20 years, at some 5,700 planes representing 41 per cent in terms of value of all new aircraft delivered above 100 seats. So far Airbus has more than 1100 aircraft in the A330/A340/A350 family range on order.