South African Airways Receives Delivery Of It's First Airbus A350-900 Aircraft.


South African Airways have finally received the first of the much anticipated Airbus  A350-900. The flag-carrier disclosed in mid-year that it was intending to lease two A350-900s and, on 31 October, the first of them arrived at its base in Johannesburg as was reported here.https://aviationroundtable.blogspot.com/2019/07/south-african-airways-leases-two-airbus.html?m=1

The Aircraft was received after a ferry flight from Singapore were it was repainted to the livery of the national carrier.

SAA plans to put the initial A350 into service on its transatlantic route to New York JFK, replacing the Airbus A340-600.

The twinjet is configured with 339 seats in two classes, with 30 lie-flat seats in the business cabin. The airline states that the first six economy-class seat rows include larger legroom.

In a statement to mark the occasion, SAA acting chief executive Zuks Ramasia says the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered aircraft will "contribute to the airline's operational efficiencies" and put the embattled airline "back on track".

Furthermore, She has revealed that four of the type will be delivered over the next six weeks, and all of them will be deployed on operations by mid-December.

With the arrival of the A350 aircraft, this will firmly place the airline on a firm path to turn around the fortunes of the airline.

Picture credit. South African Airways.

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