Airbus Plans A350 Stretch Version, To Compete With Boeing 777X - Airbus General

Airbus Plans A350 Stretch Version, To Compete With Boeing 777X

Ben Schlappig — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 23:50:48 +0000

Aircraft manufacturing of large commercial jets is basically a duopoly (assuming we don’t consider China’s COMAC to be a global player). Both Airbus and Boeing have as much business as they can handle, and aren’t in a position to ramp up production.

Continue reading: Airbus Plans A350 Stretch Version, To Compete With Boeing 777X

Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.

Axel — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:19:19 +0000

The A350 program seems to max out at the 1000 because of the Trent XWB. Perhaps a re engine by the next decade will enable the stretch?

ZEPHYR — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 10:28:08 +0000

Etihad seriously considered it. But I doubt they will still go ahead with it. It was to have 408 seats with 44 business class.

Matthew Dawood Khaghani — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 19:24:10 +0000

Of course then Boeing can then answer with a further stretch as the 777-10x.

ZEPHYR — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 03:52:25 +0000

It will not need more gear. Stretching the A350 will bring it in line with the B777-9 length. The B777 and A350 make use of similar gear design and the stretched A350 will still weigh less than the B777

Jason — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 03:41:06 +0000

"Anything you can do, I can do better..."

David Howell — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 01:51:51 +0000

Instinctively this feels like they might be preemptively ensuring they have a product ready for when the Emirates A380 fleet is eventually replaced over the course of the 2030s? Because this would be the time to start developing one...

Mike O. — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 00:02:00 +0000

Philippine Airlines is an oddity as they were trying to be more of a hybrid airline from about a decade ago or so hence the 9-abreast A330s. When the previous conglomerate sold their stake back, they reconfigured some of their A330s back to a more "status quo" configuration in line with FSCs. In regards to the A350, Airbus seems to be mimicking the B team by redesigning the sidewalls and increasing the cabin width similar to the 777X. I guess they're the first FSC (assuming their seating configuration is finalized) to go 10-abreast as they seem to cater more to their own Filipino diaspora than westerners.

Julius Grafton — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 23:27:06 +0000

It'll need more gear, remember the single centre set on the 340-600?

Justin — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 22:16:54 +0000

So far, a few airlines have put 10 abreast on an A350. They are LCCs Air Caraibes and French Bee. They have also gotten their first full service A350 customer that will follow suit, which is Philippine Airlines.