THIS MODEL HAS BEEN CHOSEN BY IBERIA IN ORDER TO RENEW ITS FLEET IN 2018
The new long-distance plane Airbus A350 made one of the first landing in Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas airport from the French city of Toulouse, on a flight operated by one of the five test planes of the European company. This model has been chosen by Iberia in order to renew its fleet in 2018, replacing the A340-600 which is currently covering the majority of Latin American routes.
Luis Gallego, president of the airline, commented recently that A350 « introduces a significant fuel savings (25% less than their modern equivalents), improvements in CO2 emissions (also 25% less), noise reduction items and decrease maintenance costs. » In addition, the cost of staff training will be 65% lower due that this plane share many elements with A330.
Gallego has emphasized the use of composite materials in the manufacture of A350, as carbon fibre present in more than half of the plane-structure, different titanium and aluminium alloys. The presence of Spanish industry in the manufacture is remarkable (around 11% of the model,) which includes important manufacturers as Industrial Olmar, bringing to this project its experience in the use of carbon fibre for the aviation industry.
Source: El País