Airbus is considering the development of the largest-ever A350 model. The company could decide to launch a new extended version of its wide-body aircraft within the next year, according to Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgic, who spoke at the Farnborough Airshow.
He stated that if a completely new engine were required for the future aircraft, its development would take six to seven years. In that scenario, the aircraft would likely not enter service before 2032. It is precisely for this reason that Airbus is trying to avoid such a costly path.
Instead of creating a new powerplant, the European plane maker is exploring the possibility of using an upgraded version of the existing Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine, which currently powers all A350 family aircraft.
According to unofficial reports, the prospective model could be called the A350-1100 or even the A350-2000. This would be a significantly more spacious version of the current A350-1000. The plan is to increase passenger capacity by lengthening the fuselage, while sacrificing some of the maximum flight range.
This approach reflects the demands of many airlines. For flights between major global hubs, carriers often prioritize transporting more passengers in a single trip over maintaining record-breaking non-stop range.
Interest in the new aircraft is also growing amid competition with Boeing. The American company is gradually nearing the introduction of the Boeing 777X family, and the potential A350-1100 could serve as Airbus’s response in the segment of the largest twin-engine passenger jets.
As a reminder, the unique Airbus A350-1000ULR recently completed its first flight—covering 17,000 kilometers without any refueling stops.
About the Author
