Airbus has tilt at Qantas Sunrise

The European manufacturer says its A350-1000 is far ­superior to Boeing’s 777X.

Airbus's new A350-1000. Picture: Sylvain Ramadier

On the eve of Qantas’s first Project Sunrise non-stop, long-haul test flight in a Boeing 787-9, Airbus has revealed it put its A350-1000 up for the contract.

It is the first time the European manufacturer has spoken about the specific aircraft type it pitched to Qantas, and insists it is far ­superior to the 777X-8, which is Boeing’s solution to the challenge.

As well as being almost 30 ­tonnes lighter than the 777X-8, the A350-1000 is 4m longer, with the capacity for 50 more seats in a three-class cabin configuration.

In addition, product marketing manager Maria Luisa Lucas-Ugena said the A350-1000 was ­already in service with Cathay Pacific and would be ready to undertake Project Sunrise flights as required.

“Our aeroplane is a brand new design compared to the 777, and is a more capable aeroplane from the range and payload perspective,” Ms Lucas-Ugena said.

“Compared to the 777-300ER, the 1000 provides a fuel saving of 25 per cent, and when compared again to the 777X it will be around a 13 per cent fuel improvement.”

Overall, Ms Lucas-Ugena said the A350-1000 would be 16 per cent cheaper to fly than the 777X, taking into account the fuel saving, and the new materials and technology on board.

“The A350 can also reduce the external noise footprint by almost 50 per cent compared to other aeroplanes and that’s a very good asset as well,” she added. Airbus remained confident it was well placed in the race, despite Boeing’s reported offer to provide Qantas with 777X-9s until the longer-range 777X-8s were available.

“We have an aeroplane that’s fully capable of doing the mission and on top of that we can deliver it in the time frame that Qantas would like to launch the operation,” Ms Lucas-Ugena said.

“It’s unmatched by the competition, so it’s a very good asset.”

But Boeing argued that its 777X-8 would have a capability like “nothing else in the market”, including the range and payload.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ managing director of market analysis and sales support, Darren Hulst, said it was committed to producing a market-leading product, but could not say when it might be in service.

“I don’t have a specific date but we absolutely are committed to the 777X-8 and we think it provides a unique product capability,” Mr Hulst said. “We’ll continue to develop what the specific timing is, but absolutely committed to what it can do, and working with Qantas to make sure it fits its needs as well.”

Mr Hulst said demand for ultra-long-range aircraft was expected to increase in the years ahead after a doubling of routes in excess of 11,000km or 14 hours of flying time, in the past decade.

“Ten years ago there were less than 55 (ultra-long haul) city pairs, now there’s over 120,” Mr Hulst said. “Another five to 10 have been announced so by the end of next year, we’ll see 130. That’s a reflection of the versatility of twin-engine aircraft.”

Qantas will embark on its first test flight of 19 hours this weekend, when a new Boeing 787-9 takes off from New York to fly non-stop to Sydney. Ms Lucas-Ugena said Airbus would love to see a similar flight conducted using an A350-1000 but Qantas pilots were not yet certified.