Here’s something you don’t see every day…
Continue reading: Iberia’s Quirky New Airbus A350s
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
The real question seems to be whether Iberia ordered the business class seats themselves or whether they were part of the direct order between Iberia and Airbus. If Airbus had completed the aircraft but Iberia specifically ordered the seats, it would appear they would have to take responsibility for the lack of the business class seats. If the seats were ordered as part of the order for the aircraft, then Airbus would have to assume responsibility.
Using a widebody aircraft on such short flights with a lot of seats missing is undoubtedly not very efficient but Iberia probably prepared for the arrival of the aircraft - has crews in place - and had to take delivery of the aircraft or pay delays to Airbus.
The bigger issue is the backlog in the supply chain which is affecting alot in the aviation industry - including engines esp. for the A320NEO and B737MAX families. Apparently Rolls Royce is still cranking the engines out for the A350.
This aircraft also is supposed to have the new Airbus new production standard interior with thinner sidewalls and additional space both in front of the first doors and behind the last doors. It would be interesting to see a side by side comparison of how that space plays out in real life.
Seems like an Air Inter flight in the 80's, minus the space between the lines of seats 🙂
The will use the EC-NVR tomorrow to retake operations to Caracas, in that very same configuration. So definitely not exclusive for short-haul/intra-europe.
I’m guessing it is still worth scheduling these new 350s on short haul routes for the cargo capacity (e.g. between Madrid and Heathrow). I would still take a premium economy seat on this plane over a standard European business ‘economy with blocked middle seat’ configuration on 320s/321s.
Air Insight says that the business class seats that Iberia is waiting on are being built by Recaro
Ben, the plane is flying to CCS and MEX this week. They didn’t sell business class fares on neither. So it won’t be stuck in short haul flights anymore.
Couldn't Iberia just install MCEs upfront as well? and market it as a business class with a blocked middle seat, and customers can't complain as they are getting the same product.
Sadly these birds ARE on longhaul routes. Check out MAD-MEX-MAD. Most days of the week one turn has one of these planes.
Funnily enough those two plane registrations sound awfully similar to Never and Nixed!
That reminds me of LH Frankfurt to Poona (that is in India) flight with an A320 where Business Class was an entire row of three economy class seats.
Actually they are using them on long haul routes. Right now it’s reopening the flights to Caracas.
Thanks for posting, Ben. This explains why we got an A350 (NVR, so one of these two birds) to ZRH. We have A330 about once or twice per week, but so far hardly ever an A350.
To install a few Eco seat (which are not sold), I think is a regulatory requirement, because crew who walk through the cabin need something to hold on in case of turbulence.
Is this one of those planes with the new sidewalls? If not, when does the new sidewall A350 enter service?
see the registration numbers above. EC-NXD is MSN 567 which is the first A350 with the New Production Standard (NPS) which not only is 4 inches wider but moved the rear pressure bulkhead back creating more room behind the rearmost set of door sand also moved the cockpit wall forward which increases the size of the front galley including moving the access stairs for the forward crew bunk, if the aircraft is so equipped. The other registration listed does not have NPS
Iberia says they are not going to 10 abreast in coach so it isn't clear how they are changing the cabin, if at all.
There are mechanical and computer changes that reduce weight and improve aircraft performance
Air China, China Eastern and China Southern all have several A350s that fall after this aircraft in the production list so they also have these features.
Air France and Singapore have each received one aircraft since NPS.
Delta, Turkish, and Lufthansa all have a couple A350s on the production line with NPS that will likely get delivered by the end of the year
Hi. Does anybody know, if Iberia made involuntary Downgrades to their Business Class Passnegers on these Longhaul Flights? Or did they offering a Reebooking?
Yeah that really isn't cool. Just booked a MAD-DSS in Business and I can only select Premium Economy. On hold with BA to cancel the award ticket currently, will fly AT instead.
I’m currently on one of these A350s en route MAD JFK. I see at least one unhappy passenger who was expecting business and is in premium economy. Strange choice of route for this aircraft!