Summary
- The A350 family has several variants beyond the A350-900 and A350-1000.
- The A350 Freighter, entering service in 2026, aims to improve cargo capacity.
- The A350ULR has the longest range, with Singapore Airlines as the sole carrier.
Over the years, the Airbus A350 aircraft has become a staple widebody in long-haul aviation. It made its first commercial flight in January 2015 and is the latest widebody aircraft by the European aircraft manufacturer. The Airbus A350 is relatively popular among operators worldwide due to its high efficiency and long-range capabilities. According to ch-aviation data, more than 1,500 A350s have been delivered to carriers worldwide since the start of production.
The A350 is not only favored by airlines but also cherished by passengers. Aviation forums frequently praise it as one of the most comfortable widebody aircraft to fly. In this article, we will explore five things you might not know about this widebody jet.
1
Many variants
There are additional A350 versions beyond the two major ones
Proposed as a clean-sheet widebody design in 2006, the Airbus A350 family developed into two main variants: the A350-900 and the longer A350-1000. In addition to the two main variants, Airbus introduced the Ultra Long Range version of the A350-900.
Photo: Chittapon Kaewkiriya | Shutterstock
Of the three passenger variants, the most popular among operators is the Airbus A350-900. According to ch-aviation data, 1,125 A350-900s have been delivered to 50 carriers. The larger capacity Airbus A350-1000 has been delivered to 25 airlines, with 387 deliveries. Meanwhile, the least popular, with just seven deliveries, is the Airbus A350-900ULR.
Below is a table comparing the specifications of the three A350 variants:
Specification |
A350-900 |
A350-900ULR |
A350-1000 |
---|---|---|---|
Max range |
8,100 nautical miles (15 372 km) |
9,700 nautical miles (18,000 km) |
8,700 nautical miles (16,482 km) |
Capacity |
300-350 in a 3-class cabin |
173 in a 2-class cabin |
350-410 in a 3-class cabin |
Wingspan |
64.75 m |
64.75 m |
64.75 m |
Overall length |
66.80 m |
66.80 m |
73.79 m |
Max speed |
0.89 Mach |
0.89 Mach |
0.89 Mach |
It is worth noting that Airbus has developed numerous variants of the A350-900, continuously modifying and improving its capabilities over the years. While the public generally refers to all these models as the A350-900, each variant has a specific code.
According to Airbus documentation, these codes range from WV000 to WV023 (WV stands for Weight Variant), indicating that there have been 23 different modifications of the A350-900. The A350-1000 underwent 14 modifications.
2
Freighter version
The A350 freighter is expected to enter service in 2026
Given the increased cargo demand post-pandemic, the European aircraft manufacturer identified a market for a new freighter. In July 2021, Airbus launched the freighter version based on the popular A350. The A350 freighter will offer more payload and more fuel-efficiency compared to the existing 777F.
Specification |
Airbus A350F |
Boeing 777F |
---|---|---|
Range |
8 700 km |
9,054 km |
Payload |
111 tons |
103 tons |
Max take-off weight |
319 tons |
347 tons |
In addition, the European plane maker sees its more fuel-efficient A350F as a replacement for the aging Boeing 747 and Boeing 767 freighters. It is also expected to enter commercial service sooner than Boeing’s proposed new freighter version of its 777X widebody.
Photo: Airbus
In a recent update, Airbus said it will upgrade its A350 freighter with the world’s largest main deck cargo door.
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3
Longest range in the market
The A350ULR range: 9,700 nautical miles
The Airbus A350-900URL has the longest range in the market. The A350-900URL can fly as far as 9,700 nautical miles (18,000 km), equating to over 20 hours of continuous flight under ideal conditions.
Photo: The Global Guy | Shutterstock
While its range capabilities seem incredible, the widebody was never popular among airlines. Singapore Airlines was the sole carrier to have ordered the jet. The reason the widebody was not in demand compared to other variants is its reduced capacity.
To meet its range capabilities, the URL was envisioned to carry around 173 passengers as its standard configuration: 80 in business class and 93 in economy class. In the real world, with Singapore Airlines, it is 161 passengers: 67 in business class and 94 in premium economy. This is in stark contrast to the 315 passengers stated to be the standard seating capacity for other A350-900s, with 48 in business and 267 in economy class.
Notably, cargo operations are not possible in the ULR variant due to the deactivation of the forward cargo compartment.
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4
Upgraded engines
Upgraded Trent XWB-84 engines to enter service in 2025
The European aircraft manufacturer has introduced several enhancements to its A350 widebody. Starting next year, newly produced A350-900s will be equipped with upgraded Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engines.
Photo: aappp | Shutterstock
The upgraded Trent XWB-84 engines will feature enhanced aerodynamics, leading to improved efficiency in the compressor system. The enhancements will also include:
- Increased cooling air, which will be redirected through the High-Pressure Turbine (HPT) blade
- A new disc alloy
The newly upgraded engines have already been tested on the A350. The UK aviation giant Rolls-Royce reported that the aircraft underwent extensive endurance testing, including 2,800 hot cycles.
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5
Different wingtips
Some A350s sport different wingtips
Avgeeks typically recognize the A350 by its curved wingtips. However, the European plane maker has gradually advanced the A350 widebody, introducing new wingtips that enhance aerodynamics. These new wingtips feature a taller and squarer curvature compared to the original design.
Here is what the new wingtip design enhanced in the A350 :
- This modification made in 2017 led to a broader span load and reduced overall drag
- It improved the A350’s fuel efficiency and range
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