Virgin Atlantic Announces Airbus A350-1000 Order at Farnborough

On 11 July 2016, we announced an order for 12 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow in Hampshire, England. Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson joined Chief Executive Craig Kreeger and Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Brégier for the announcement, arriving aboard an Airbus A350 demonstration aircraft. The agreement, valued at approximately US$4.4 billion at list prices, represented a substantial investment in modernising our long-haul fleet. The agreement covered eight aircraft purchased directly from Airbus and four to be leased from Air Lease Corporation, with an option for a fifth leased aircraft. Deliveries were expected to begin in 2019. The A350-1000 was selected to replace older Boeing 747-400 aircraft and support our long-haul operations from London Heathrow and London Gatwick, including transatlantic business routes and leisure destinations in the Caribbean. Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, the twin-engine A350-1000 offered improvements in fuel efficiency, noise performance and operating costs compared with the aircraft it was intended to replace. Its lightweight composite construction and updated cabin design also provided opportunities to improve passenger comfort through quieter interiors, larger overhead storage and new seating arrangements. The announcement formed part of our wider fleet renewal programme, aimed at introducing more efficient aircraft while maintaining the capacity and range needed for our international network. The A350-1000 order provided a foundation for the next stage of our long-haul fleet development, with the first aircraft scheduled to enter service three years later.