Reveal Of New Lavatory Concept Freeing-up Space For More Seats On A320 Family Cabin

Hamburg, Germany – April 5, 2011 – Airbus once again showcases its cabin innovations at this years’ Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany. The leading manufacturer presents a market research mock-up of a space-saving rear lavatory and galley concept for the A320 Family for the first time.

Called Space-Flex, the concept makes more efficient use of the volume at the rear of the cabin. The result: two lavatories plus a galley can now be accommodated in this space, offering airlines the possibility to install up to three more revenue-generating seats in the cabin and/or to improve seat pitch. One of the Space-Flex lavatories provides full access for ‘Persons with Reduced Mobility’ (PRM) through a simple conversion process: an industry first on a single-aisle aircraft.

Another key to cabin flexibility, the A350 XWB enabling platform, is impressively demonstrated at the Airbus booth. Standard interfaces designed to accommodate a wide variety of operator needs and cabin furnishings based on modular designs combine to facilitate the customization of the cabin and allow airlines to reconfigure their cabin in service more easily than before.

The A380 display underlines the unmatched passenger appeal of the world’s biggest passenger aircraft. With more than 40 aircraft in service, the A380 is getting overwhelmingly positive passenger feedback and brings operators higher load factors and increased revenues.

Airbus’ SPICE galley project (SPace Innovative Catering Equipment) has been making steady progress during 2010. After revealing the operational prototype at last years’ Aircraft Interiors Expo, Airbus will present the progress of user trials performed at a full-scale test facility in Toulouse, demonstrating full cabin service for up to 200 passengers. The space-saving catering system improves crew working conditions at the same time as saving hundreds of kilograms of weight and generating space for additional revenue seats.

Airbus space-efficient concepts go beyond new products. Airbus Upgrade Services will present its range of retrofit solutions and services. Cabin experts and students or young talents can inform themselves about career opportunities at Airbus and personally talk to human resources representatives.

The Airbus stand is located in hall 7, booth number 7D20.

Remains the unique service provider compliant with Airbus inflight communications architecture

Geneva, Switzerland, 5 February 2010. OnAir has been selected by Airbus as the first connectivity solutions provider to be linefit offerable on A350 XWB. The company is as of today the only service provider to comply with Airbus’ A350 stringent inflight communications architecture (based on the ALNA V2 platform). OnAir is already linefit and retrofit offerable on the other Airbus families, and has been certified by EASA on 9 Airbus aircraft types.

“OnAir is proud that its state-of-the-art connectivity technology has been chosen onboard the latest generation of aircraft on the market,” said Benoit Debains, CEO of OnAir. “OnAir services can be integrated with all possible inflight entertainment and communication systems. This will be very important for the airline industry and in particular for the 40 per cent of Airbus A350’s customers who have already chosen OnAir’s connectivity solutions.”

With over 20 customers across the globe, OnAir is the only inflight mobile communications provider to deliver broadband satellite solutions worldwide. The solution offers much more than passenger communications, with applications such as telemedecine, credit card authentication, airline in-flight portals which generate ancillary revenues, improve airline efficiency and help reduce costs.

LAKE FOREST, California – 05 February 2010 – Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic), the world leader in state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment and communication (IFEC) systems, today announced it is selected as an IFEC provider for the Airbus A350 XWB.
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The contract between Airbus and Panasonic was signed at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France on February 4, 2010 by Klaus Richter, EVP of Procurement at Airbus and Paul Margis, CEO at Panasonic Avionics Corporation.
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Panasonic’s advanced IFEC solutions enable airlines to easily tailor the passenger experience.  Along with full-cabin audio and video on demand (AVOD), passengers will be able to choose from a large selection of movies, television programs, music and advanced applications including:
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eXPhone – In-flight mobile phones service
eXConnect – Full internet access with corporate VPN support over true broadband
Panasonic Airborne Television Network – Global television solution broadcasting live news and sports

Panasonic also offers airline specific services such as onboard advertising and IFEC usage statistic monitoring, both of which are accessible by airlines though Panasonic’s web-based PAXUS data analysis tool.�
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“We are proud to extend our relationship with Airbus and be selected to install our in-flight entertainment and communications system equipment on the Airbus A350 XWB flight test aircraft MSN002,” said Paul Margis, Chief Executive Officer at Panasonic Avionics Corporation. “As an IFE & Cabin Communications supplier on the Airbus A350 XWB, even more passengers will be able to experience the next generation passenger experience as these new airplanes enter service.”

New Airbus customer boosts A350 XWB orders beyond 500

Ethiopian Airlines has today ordered 12 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, bringing total orders for the A350 XWB family to 505, not even three years after launch of the programme.

In selecting the A350-900 to operate from their hub in Addis Ababa on routes to Europe, the US and Asia, Ethiopian Airlines becomes a new member in Airbus’ family of over 300 customers.

“We are committed to investing in industry leading technology to maintain our unrivalled reputation in Africa whilst continuing to grow” said Mr Girma Wake, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines. “The A350-900 uses new technology to bring superior passenger comfort and a step change in fuel efficiency to our rapidly expanding operations.”

“The A350 XWB’s extra efficiency and cabin-comfort will strengthen Ethiopian Airlines’ position as a leader and benchmark in African aviation” said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO. “More than 500 orders from 32 customers is a clear endorsement that the A350 XWB is shaping the future of air travel.”

The A350 XWB Family is Airbus’ response to widespread market demand for a series of highly efficient medium-capacity long-range wide-body aircraft. With a range of up to 8,300 nm / 15,400 km, it is available in three basic passenger versions.

The A350 XWB has the widest fuselage in its category, offering unprecedented levels of comfort, the lowest operating costs and lowest seat mile cost of any aircraft in this market segment. Powered by two new generation Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines, the A350 XWB Family is designed to confront the challenges of high fuel prices, rising passenger expectations, and environmental constraints.

Firm orders for the A350 XWB now stand at 505 from 32 customers worldwide.

Nuremberg, November 13, 2008. Airbus has awarded Diehl Aerospace a contract to realise the entire cabin and cargo lighting package for the aircraft of the new A350 XWB family. This order expands the company’s market leadership in the segment of cabin lighting.

The entire package includes lighting of the cargo area next to cabin lighting and the emergency lighting system. For the first time, Airbus is handing over responsibility for the entire lighting system to an individual system supplier. This step aims at reinforcing the successful cooperation of both companies.

The cabin lighting of the A350 XWB is characterized by new accent lights as well as the employment of innovative and filigree strip lights. Thanks to these individually manageable segments with LEDs in the colours red, green, blue and white, new light scenarios can be produced in the cabin. Apart from harmonious colour transitions and situational atmospheric colours, the light effects are capable of generating flowing movements as well. As a whole, Diehl Aerospace’s technology contributes decisively to the appearance of the aircraft cabin.

This success enables Diehl Aerospace to expand market leadership in cabin lighting in the long-range aircraft segment. Moreover, it strengthens the company’s position as an efficient first-tier Supplier of the aircraft industry.