Airbus presents all new A350 cabin at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2006

Airbus will present the all-new A350 cabin during this year's Aircraft Interiors Expo from April 4th to 6th in Hamburg/Germany. The market leading aircraft manufacturer will display a full-scale 12 meter cabin mock-up on its Hall 6 stand, highlighting three main drivers: Comfort, Efficiency and Services.

For passengers, the A350 cabin will be the most advanced and comfortable cabin in its class. The entrance area features a new circular design, which includes also the door area to allow a smart integration of fittings, such as galleys, wash rooms and social areas. Airlines are thus able to offer a more spacious and a more personal welcome area.

New high-quality materials for sidewalls and ceilings, based on nano-technology, larger windows for more natural light and an advanced mood light system enhance the possibilities for airlines to offer a far more pleasant journey. New projection technologies even allow display of virtual images on the ceiling. Passengers are also going to benefit from improved design of overhead bins. They allow more than two standard roller-bags per passenger in Business-Class and more than one roller-bag per Economy Class passenger.

The new design is the fruit of a co-operation between Airbus design teams in Hamburg and Toulouse and London-based design firm Priestman Goode.

For airlines, the A350 will be the most versatile cabin ever, allowing them to reconfigure seating, lavatory and galley positions easily in response to their strategy and market demands. New "snap and click" technology with common attachment points allows airlines to reduce configuration times significantly.

When entering service in 2010, the A350 will offer the same connectivity services in the air as the user can obtain on the ground. Passengers are going to have wireless access to their internet and email providers and will also be able to use their mobile phone and all related services on board - a technology Airbus will already introduce beginning of 2007 on board of A320-Family aircraft. To enhance the in-flight-entertainment system, A350 passengers will be able to enjoy an onboard satellite TV with multi-channel packages.

The A350 Family will initially include two members. The A350-800 will carry up to 253 passengers in a three-class configuration up to 8,800 nm/16,300 km. Its larger sister, the A350-900, will accommodate as many as 300 passengers in a three-class layout up to 7,500 nm/13,890 km. These new aircraft share the technologically advanced innovations of the A380 and are endowed with the latest technologies.

Airbus is an EADS joint company with BAE Systems.

More...