KUALA LUMPUR: The manufacture of the first six Airbus A350 XWB (extra wide-body) planes ordered by Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAS) is ongoing worldwide, including in Malaysia.
The components being manufactured in Malaysia include the planes' wings and engine nacelles.
According to Airbus SA, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of all Airbus planes, works for the A350 XWB are undertaken at CTRM Sdn Bhd and Spirit AeroSystems Malaysia Sdn Bhd at their plants in Melaka and Subang, respectively.
CTRM and Spirit AeroSystems are Airbus' Malaysia-based industrial partners.
The A350 XWB is a family of Airbus' twin-engine, long-range, wide-body jet airplanes. The plane can carry between 280 and 366 passengers in typical three-class seating layouts.
The aircraft is set to compete against rival American plane manufacturer’s Boeing's B787 and B777. They were introduced to the market on Jan 15, 2015, with Qatar Airways being the first official airline to fly them.
To date, Airbus has recorded a total of 810 firm orders for the Airbus A350 XWB from 43 customers worldwide.
Meanwhile, MAS has signed a long-term lease from Aircraft Lease Corporation, an American aircraft leasing company, for four A350s and options for an additional two as part of the airline's restructuring strategy.
All six planes will be powered by two Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines. The aircraft will be delivered between the fourth quarter of 2017 and the second quarter of 2018.
MAS has officially said that it will replace the super-jumbo A380, which the airline is currently using to service its Kuala Lumpur–London route, with the A350 XWB starting 2018