Airbus unveils the passenger cabins for the new A350 XWB plane

2 minute read
Published 12:14 AM EDT, Tue April 8, 2014
Airbus unveiled the interior cabin on two of its A350 XWB test planes. LED lighting and near-vertical side walls are two of the plane-maker's innovations.
Sitting comfortably? —
Airbus unveiled the interior cabin on two of its A350 XWB test planes. LED lighting and near-vertical side walls are two of the plane-maker's innovations.
courtesy airbus
The economy cabin has a nine-abreast configuration with Airbus' 18-inch wide seats.
An extra couple of inches —
The economy cabin has a nine-abreast configuration with Airbus' 18-inch wide seats.
courtesy airbus
The electronics for the in-flight entertainment systems will all be hidden below the floor, so no more kicking of metal boxes under the seat in front of you.
Relief for the long of leg —
The electronics for the in-flight entertainment systems will all be hidden below the floor, so no more kicking of metal boxes under the seat in front of you.
courtesy airbus
The manufacturer has also opened a showroom and one-stop-shop in Hamburg, Germany, for airlines to choose their own interiors, from materials to IFE consoles.
Customizable cabins —
The manufacturer has also opened a showroom and one-stop-shop in Hamburg, Germany, for airlines to choose their own interiors, from materials to IFE consoles.
courtesy airbus
Airbus says that the new jets will have larger overhead stowage than existing aircraft.
Little things make a big difference —
Airbus says that the new jets will have larger overhead stowage than existing aircraft.
couresy airbus
There should be fewer drainpipes seated next to you when the plane comes into service later this year.
Pipe me aboard, captain —
There should be fewer drainpipes seated next to you when the plane comes into service later this year.
courtesy airbus
Airbus have been developing the plane since 2006. It will be made of 53% composite materials.
In for the long-haul —
Airbus have been developing the plane since 2006. It will be made of 53% composite materials.
AFP/Getty Images
As well as claims of a quieter cabin during flight, the A350 XWB is thought to be 25% more efficient than other existing jets of its size.
It's all about efficiency —
As well as claims of a quieter cabin during flight, the A350 XWB is thought to be 25% more efficient than other existing jets of its size.
AFP/Getty Images
Passenger cabins on the Airbus A350 XWB

Story highlights

Airbus show off the cabin configuration for its new A350 XWB jet

Economy class has nine, 18 inch wide seats across each row

Near straight cabin walls and larger overhead bins give the plane more space, says the manufacturer

CNN  — 

Last week Airbus announced a squeeze which will make most frequent flyers groan, but today the European firm unveiled how passengers flying on its new A350 XWB might travel.

Two test planes have been fitted out with full economy and business class interiors. The economy cabin has a nine-abreast configuration, with 18-inch wide seats, while business class has just four seats per row.

Airbus boasts that the new, extra wide-body planes will have near-vertical walls and larger overhead baggage bins compared to its current fleet of aircraft.

And for passengers with long legs, there shouldn’t be any more issues with in-flight entertainment (IFE) boxes blocking the space under the seat in front of them; Airbus has placed all the electronic boxes and connections under the floor.

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Another innovation is the full cabin LED lighting that Airbus says can offer a mind-boggling 16.7 million possible colors.

“Passenger comfort is an increasingly important differentiator for the airline industry, becoming a fundamental deciding factor driving passenger choice and business success,” said Chris Emerson, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Airbus.

Read more: Would you pay to cut in line for toilets on a flight?

If cabin interiors are a deciding factor for passengers when choosing an airline, then Airbus has also tried to make it easier for airlines to customize them. It has also opened a one-stop interiors showroom and test center in Hamburg, Germany.

The Customer Definition Center has mock-up interiors of the A350 XWB with a full range of materials and fourth generation IFE consoles, plus a virtual reality modeling tool to help airlines visualize their choices.

Airbus says that 39 airlines have placed orders for 812 A350 XWB jets, with three versions offering passenger capacity between 276 and 369 seats. The first will be delivered to Qatar Airways later this year.

The mid-size, long-range jet is set to go head-to-head with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and will be made of 53% composite materials. According to Airbus it achieves a 25% reduction in seat-mile costs and 25% lower carbon dioxide emission than existing, similar sized aircraft.

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