Peach takes first A321LR in Japan; French bee takes A350; Airbus firms up freighter order

Japan’s Peach Aviation has taken delivery of its first A321LR and will set to become the first operator of the type in Japan. Offering 218 seats in a single-class layout, the aircraft will join the fleet of Tokyo and Osaka-based low cost carrier (LCC). The A321LR will enable Peach to open new routes from Japan to destinations of up to 4,000nm (7,400km). The A321LR, a member of the A320neo family, delivers 20 percent fuel savings and nearly 50 percent reduction in noise footprint compared to previous generations of aircraft. The A321LR is the unrivalled long-range route opener, featuring true transatlantic capability and premium wide-body comfort in a single-aisle aircraft cabin. With its new fleet, airlines will benefit from the lowest operating costs in the respective size categories, as well as the unique commonality between variants of the Airbus family. At the end of November 2021, the A320neo Family had received more than 7,700 firm orders from over 120 customers worldwide. French bee takes delivery of its first A350-1000 (PHOTO: Airbus) French bee, the low-cost, long-haul airline (Groupe Dubreuil member) based in France, has taken delivery of its first A350-1000, on lease from Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL), to join its fleet and make the airline an all-A350 fleet operator. The aircraft is the first of two A350-1000s to be operated by the carrier on route from Paris to Saint Denis de La Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. The A350-1000s will complement the four A350-900 aircraft already in the French bee fleet, providing the airline with unrivalled operational flexibility and eco-efficient solutions for its network. The aircraft features 480 seats in a two-class layout (40 Premium Class and 440 Economy Class), providing all the comfort and amenities of Airbus’ Airspace cabin, including state-of-the-art, in-flight passenger entertainment (IFE) and full WiFi connectivity throughout the cabin. The A350 cabin is also the quietest of any twin-aisle aircraft. The A350-1000, Airbus’ largest widebody in the twin-engine category, features the latest aerodynamic design, a carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, allowing the airline to fly long-haul destinations up to 16,000 km (8,700nm). Together, these elements translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency with 25 percent less fuel burn and CO2 emissions and 50 percent reduction in noise. Simultaneously, the Dubreuil group has also taken delivery of another A350-1000 on lease from Air Lease Corporation intended for Air Caraïbes, bringing the number of Airbus aircraft in the group’s fleet to 15. Airbus firms up order for four A350F freighters (IMAGE: Airbus) Airbus has firmed up an order for the purchase of four A350F freighter aircraft with the CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics. This order will bring CMA CGM’s total Airbus fleet to nine aircraft, including four A330-200F and one A330-200 to be converted into a freighter. The A350F is based on the world’s most modern long range leader, the A350. The aircraft features a large main deck cargo door and a fuselage length optimised for cargo operations. Over 70 percent of the airframe is made of advanced materials resulting in a 30t lighter take-off weight, generating an at least 20% lower fuel burn over its current closest competitor. With a 109 tonne payload capability (+3 tonne payload/11 percent more volume than its competition), the A350F serves all cargo markets (Express, general cargo, special cargo…) and is in the large freighter category the only new generation freighter aircraft ready for the enhanced 2027 ICAO CO₂ emissions standards. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]