A350 - A main driver of the global economy
The air transport industry brings people together, creating a more connected and more prosperous world.
Since its beginnings air transport has grown steadily and, fuelled by emerging economies, is set to continue doing so. At Airbus, we believe that this growth must be undertaken with sustainability at the forefront of all stakeholders’ minds. We believe that a sustainable aviation industry is possible and are committed to being a leading player in achieving this goal.
There is no “miracle” solution to decarbonising air transport. A multifaceted approach based on technological advancement, changes to aircraft operations and the modernisation of related infrastructure will be required.
One means of significantly lowering the carbon footprint of aviation available today is the accelerated replacement of older aircraft by new, fuel efficient designs. Previous generation aircraft make up about 75% of the current fleet. Replacing these with aircraft from the modern, fuel efficient Airbus product line could potentially reduce CO2 emissions by 25%.
One such aircraft is the flagship A350-1000. Capable of flying 400 plus passengers well over 8,000nm, the A350-1000 does so while delivering 25% lower fuel burn and 24,000 tonnes less CO2 annually than the aircraft it is designed to replace.
On a long-haul route such as Sao Paulo to London, the A350-1000 can take off 40t lighter than its current competitor whilst carrying significantly more payload. In typical airline operations this can result in more than $40 million in fuel savings alone*. The A350-1000 is, and will remain for the foreseeable future, the best large widebody solution in times of economic or social uncertainty and volatile fuel prices.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) can reduce life cycle CO2 emissions by 80% compared to conventional fuel. Capable of flying today with a 50/50 SAF blend, the A350-1000 will be ready to fly with 100% SAF by 2030.
The A350-1000 was also designed to be the quietest aircraft in the 400-seat category. The Trent XWB engine’s almost 10:1 bypass ratio combined with optimised air flow for less aerodynamic noise ensure a significant margin to current ICAO Chapter 14 standards as well as a 50% smaller operational noise footprint than current competing aircraft.
Further reductions in noise and emission impact on local airport communities are achieved thanks to new operational procedures for which the A350-1000 is fully equipped.
Continuous Descent Approach, for example, reduces noise and fuel burn thanks to a non-stepped descent to landing. On take-off, Noise Abatement Departure Procedures seek to reduce noise over local communities through the use of preferred departure runways and routes as well as reduced climb thrust settings.
The latest all-new large aircraft design, the A350-1000 combines cutting-edge aerodynamics, the world’s most efficient large aero engine, innovative structural engineering and advanced materials and systems to deliver lower costs, lower fuel burn and emissions and less noise than current or planned competing aircraft.
* per aircraft over 15 years, in 2023 economic conditions (2.8$/gal)
