The A350 journey The plane in detail Enhanced cabins New entertainment

Head of A350 Project What you need to know New seat designs for Upgraded hardware and
tells the aircrafts story about our A350 all three classes enhanced content
Page 4 Page 5 Page 10 Page 12

June 2016 A magazine for staff and friends of Cathay Pacific Airways

A350
The future of air travel

SPECIAL ISSUE
 The beginning of
a new era
Ivan Chu, Chief Executive

It was a very proud moment for Cathay Pacific when our

first Airbus A350-900 landed at Hong Kong International
Airport on 29 May. This was the culmination of a six-
year journey from when we first placed an order for this
remarkable new aircraft.

While we have one of the most modern and efficient

wide-body fleets in the skies, it has been more than 20
years since we last introduced a totally new passenger
aircraft type. The A350 XWB family was the perfect fit for
the next stage of our fleet development a mid-size long-
haul aircraft that will complement our existing passenger
fleet and give us the capacity, range and operating
economics to facilitate the ongoing enhancement of our
networks.

The A350 is a marvellous machine in many ways. The
combination of advanced aerodynamics, lightweight
composite materials and the latest Rolls-Royce Trent
XWB engines result in a significant reduction in fuel
burn compared to existing widebody types. As well as
reducing operating costs, the highly efficient A350 also
benefits the environment, with a corresponding cut in
C02 emissions and a reduced external noise footprint.
From a passenger perspective, the A350 will really travel experiences in the sky.
help us deliver on our promise of a Life Well Travelled.
The A350 has been an amazing journey so far and I
The aircraft itself has a range of innovations from
would like to thank all those involved our own fantastic
larger windows to cabin mood lighting and fresher
teams, Airbus and various vendors and suppliers who
air that combine with the quieter cabin and spacious
helped to get our new fleet into the air.
environment to really help our passengers travel well.
Add these to the brand-new suite of Cathay products
and what you have is unquestionably one of the best

A350-900
in 20 seconds...

40% 4 16 0.85
REDUCTION COUNTRIES MILLION MACH
Maintenance requirements Main sections built in France, Colours for cabin Cruise speed
over the life of the aircraft Spain, Germany, and the UK mood lighting

The wings can Operates at a higher Common pilot type Advanced onboard
change shape cabin pressure, rating with the maintenance
during flight by small hence a lower cabin A330 to improve diagnostics to improve
movements of the altitude, to reduce operational flexibility operational reliability
flaps to improve fuel passenger fatigue
efficiency

Highly integrated avionics that The wing surface is the largest

reduce the number of computers single piece of carbon fibre
used by 50%, saving weight and structure ever produced for
increasing reliability civil aviation

02 A350 Special Issue

 Congratulations to
Cathay Pacific on
delivery of the first
Trent XWB powered
A350-900
Continuing our partnership of
over 40 years with the worlds
most efficient large aero engine

We deliver the best

jet engines in the world

The story continues...

Aeroplane image 2016 Cathay Pacific Airways
 The A350: from
the beginning
Bob Taylor, Head of A350 Project

Our A350 journey began in 2009 with the launch of

an aircraft tendering exercise that culminated in the
selection of the A350 and the signing of an agreement
with Airbus for an initial order of 30 aircraft, which
subsequently increased to 48. The exercise was led
by the Procurement and Aircraft Trading teams, who
worked closely with key operational departments such
as Airline Planning, Flight Operations, Engineering,
Product, Inflight Services, Cargo and Catering to
develop our airlines requirements.

When a new aircraft model is undergoing selection,

a key consideration is the maintenance and overhaul
of the engines, as this represents around 50% of the
total aircraft maintenance costs. While the tendering
of the A350 took place, a parallel exercise was
therefore run for a long-term engine maintenance
agreement with the engine manufacturer.

Another key task was the selection of the cabin

product. In 2013, a tendering exercise was led by the
Procurement team working closely with the Product
Department, Cabin Engineering and Inflight Services
to select cabin seat suppliers.

Milestones through the years

2009
Commercial tendering exercise
for aircraft and engines begins.
The choice is between Boeings
787 and Airbuss A350
16 September 2010
Chairman Chris Pratt and Chief
Executive Tony Tyler meet with
Airbus Chief Operating Officer
Customers John Leahy to
finalise the deal at a signing
ceremony in Hong Kong
2Q 2012
Request for information begins
for cabin products. Shortlisted
products enter a request for
proposal process
July 2013
Contracts signed with cabin
product vendors, for items such
as seats
25 July 2013
Virtual first flight takes place in a
full-scale cabin mock-up on the
ground at the A350 XWB Cabin
Integration & Test Centre on
the outskirts of Hamburg. 129
passengers were served by our
cabin crew on the ground
July 2014
A350 in Asia for route
proving. Staff from different
departments visit the aircraft
and take a flight to Singapore

4 August 2010
Letter of intent signed with
Airbus for 30 A350 aircraft
Jan 2012
Six more A350-900s ordered
July 2012
Further agreement with Airbus
for the purchase of a total of 22
-900s and 26 -1000s, bringing
the A350 fleet to 48 aircraft
14 June 2013
A350 maiden flight takes off
from Blagnac in Toulouse.
The Cathay Engineering team
is present
May 2014
Entry Into Service (EIS) project
for the A350 launched to make
sure the airline, the maintenance
teams, and operators have all
the tools, equipment, resources
and training needed, in addition
to regulatory approvals to
operate the aircraft
7 July 2015
The first in-house A350
engineer training course
commences. This course is the
worlds first for the new aircraft
type not to be conducted by
Airbus.
The course is designed by
Cathays own team under
Pascal De Ronne, and delivered
by Technical Training Specialists
to Cathay engineers

04 A350 Special Issue

 The purchase of a flight simulator was also another challenges that required close co-operation with

key activity led by the procurement team that required
significant lead time.
In 2014, the Entry into Service (EIS) project was
launched with the objective of preparing the airline
to operate and maintain the A350 in service. The EIS
project established key work streams across various
operational departments including our Hong Kong
maintenance provider, HAECO. The work streams
included the training of flight crew, engineers and
inflight services, provision of technical spares, tooling
and ground support equipment, implementation
of IT infrastructure and system changes, technical
documentation, e-Operations and obtaining
regulatory approval.
Cathay also decided to place an experienced
Engineering manager full-time in Toulouse who was
embedded in the Airbus design team to ensure the
maintainability and operability of the A350 in service.
The delivery of our A350 was originally planned for
Feburary 2016 but was delayed by three months to May.
The delay was down to a number of challenges faced by
the Business Class seat supplier in meeting a stringent
set of seat certification requirements and overcoming
production issues. To minimise and reduce the risk of
further delay, Engineering placed full-time representatives
in the manufacturers production facilities in the US and
France to drive and oversee progress.
A key challenge was e-Operations. Cathay was
the first airline to install their own version of the
e-technical and cabin logbook onto the A350, and
this led to a number of significant IT integration
A350s on order
Airbus over a period of two years. The hard work paid
off, however, with the Cathay customised electronic
logbooks ready and approved by EIS. E-Operations
also drove the investment in a significant amount
of new IT infrastructure, as the A350s systems
are driven by large volumes of software and data
exchange that required worldwide connectivity and
management systems to be installed.
The many years of hard work and planning A350-900
culminated in a delivery team of 30 from Flight 22 aircraft on order; delivery between 2016-2017
Operations, Engineering and IT travelling to
First aircraft B-LRA entered revenue service on 1 June 2016
Toulouse to deliver B-LRA. Over eight days, the team
conducted a series of intensive quality inspections, 38 Business Class seats, 28 in Premium Economy and 214 in
system and compliance checks and a customer Economy; a total of 280 passengers
acceptance test and proving flight to earn the 67 metres in length
certificate of airworthiness and for the A350 to be Maximum fuel capacity of 138,000 litres
added to Cathays Air Operators Certificate.
Its hard to put a number on the total number of
man-hours spent by the Cathay teams over the past
years to get B-LRA into service, but its likely to be
well in excess of 100,000 hours!
The A350-900 has now transitioned from project to
operation. The next phase of the project has already A350-1000
begun: EIS of the A350-1000 is planned for the 26 aircraft on order; delivery between 2018-2020
second quarter of 2018. More than 300 seats
74 metres in length the longest in the Airbus XWB series
Maximum fuel capacity of 156,000 litres
Has a longer range, more seats, and a higher payload than the
A350-900

July 2015 15 March 2016 April 2016 22 May 2016 28 May 2016
Arrival of the first of two A350 Winglet is fitted to the wing The first time that Cathay Cathay Airbus test pilots Delivery flight of B-LRA to Hong
flight simulators at Cathay chooses an aircraft Captains Simon Scanlon and Kong. Flies out from Toulouse
City. External walls at the Flight manufacturer (Airbus) for Ian McClelland undertake the as CX3350. This is also a
Training Centre are removed to guaranteeing aircraft technical Acceptance Test Flight of proving flight with the Hong
fit the simulator in
4 November 2015 spare parts availability, B-LRA in Toulouse Kong Civil Aviation Department
maintenance and inventory onboard
Cathay Jade being painted onto technical management
the tail

November 21 December 2015 24 March 2016 20 April 2016 30 May 2016 1 June 2016
2015 Pilot training begins Cathays first A350 completes A350 support corner opens. Welcome party for nearly B-LRA enters service as CX907
its six-hour maiden flight over Seats, galley and equipment are 500 VIPs, Marco Polo Club to Manila
Simulator
land and sea by the Airbus flight displayed. Support Facilitators members, staff and media at
instructors begin Video here
test team onsite to provide walk-through the HAECO hangar
training

A350 Special Issue 05

 A detailed look at the A350-900

Flight deck Cabin Aircraft design

Familiar Airbus E-enabled HD Personal Quiet cabin Advanced Fuel

look and feel The flight deck is TV The draft-free air aerodynamics Simplified three-tank
fully e-enabled with circulation system design with fewer
The flight deck is Panasonic eX3 inflight Inspired by birds, the
advanced functionality combined with airframe, pumps and valves that
designed to have a entertainment system wings adapt their shape
to optimise flight engine and cabin reduce maintenance
common look and with HD monitors in throughout the flight by
profiles. The flight deck design results in a low effort and increase
feel to existing Airbus all classes. Capacity modulating the flaps
is fitted with latest ambient cabin noise reliability
aircraft types. Common touch screens replace
technology Head-Up level for a peaceful Watch an animation
pilot type rating with pressure-sensitive
the A330 reduces crew Displays to improve
ones; improved
journey about the wings: Hydraulic
crew situational
training requirements
awareness
interface enhances Temperature
http://bit.ly/1sOY9kG systems
and improves crew navigation
flexibility to fly both Seven independent Fuselage Reduced complexity to
Fly-by-Wire improve reliability. The
types Extended IFE temperature zones for The A350 is an extra
hydraulics operate at
Advanced avionics precise adjustment wide body aircraft,
Entertainment is higher pressure than
take fly-by-wire to the amongst the widest
next level, increasing available immediately Air traditional hydraulic
Common pilot in its class, enabling
systems to power
safety by providing upon boarding conditioning flatter cabin side
type rating flight envelope walls with larger
landing gear and flight

Pilots qualified on protection and Cabin pressure Total cabin air changed
windows that gives
controls ,resulting in a
A higher cabin pressure every three minutes, reduction in weight due
A330 can undergo improving system the cabin a roomier
results in lower cabin with recirculated air to smaller pipes and
differences training to redundancy feeling
altitude to reduce filtered through high hoses
operate the A350, thus Fly-by-wire also efficiency filters
passenger fatigue and
increasing operational provides a weight improve well-being Simpler avionics
flexibility advantage over Lighting Highly integrated
conventional control Inflight LED mood lighting avionics systems are
Artwork credit: Tim Leung

systems connectivity throughout the cabin, connected through an

changing colour advanced ethernet data
Wi-Fi connectivity is
according to the flight network, using half the
available for the first
phase to help reduce number of computers
time on a Cathay
jetlag traditionally required
aircraft

06 A350 Special Issue

 Hows that for flying?
Captain Peter Lees, A350 Entry Into Service Manager

The A350 feels very much like the A330 and, indeed,
part of the reason that the aircraft has been awarded
a Common Type Rating is that it does handle in such a
similar way. The A350 is very much a third generation
Airbus fly-by-wire aircraft and many of the systems have
been enhanced to provide exceptional redundancy in
case of system failures. One of the benefits of fly-by-
wire is that aircraft of differing sizes and aerodynamic
features can be made to handle alike, regardless of
weight, speed and configuration. If anything, the A350
feels like a big A330, stable but with precise reaction to
control inputs.

Materials The flight control system on the A350 is similar to all fly-
More than by-wire Airbus aircraft; the flight control computers prevent
70% of excessive manoeuvres and maintain the aircraft within
the airframe the safe flight envelope. Unlike the A330, the A350 has a
is made of number of backup control actuators to provide redundancy
advanced following certain system failures. The head-up display is
materials that are strong, a completely new feature for Cathay Pacific and provides
lightweight, and flight crew with enhanced situational awareness.
highly resistant to But it is the e-Enabled flight deck where the A350
corrosion and fatigue differs most from the A330. The Onboard Information
Blue Titanium Grey Aluminium lithium Green Composite System (OIS) comprises the Electronic Flight Bag, the
carbon fibre reinforced
Strong, lightweight Lightweight; stronger than plastic on-board performance application (FlySmart), eTechLog,
traditional aluminium
High load areas such as Exceptionally strong eCharts and the Operations Library Browser, all of which
landing gear, door frames Construction of the nose
and engine pylons of the aircraft and various Fuselage and wings; strong combine to make the aircraft virtually paperless. Brake to
locations enough to construct a Vacate is an innovative feature of the aircrafts autobrake
more complex shape to
enhance aerodynamic system that both improves passenger comfort as well as
efficiencies
optimising brake use and runway occupancy time.

Completion of the A330 to A350 Differences Course

allows pilots to fly both aircraft on a single licence
endorsement. To be eligible to undertake the this course,
pilots must be qualified and current on the A330. This
brings greater flexibility to Cathay Pacific from a manning
perspective, and from the pilots point of view this means
a greater variety of flying including regional, medium and
long-haul.
Maintenance

Reduced heavy High system

checks redundancy
A heavy maintenance
check required only
The A350 has highly
reliable systems that
Jargon busters
once every 12 years, have benefited from
compared to six for maturity and lessons
Fly-by-wire replaces Common type rating
the A330, thanks to learned from similar
mechanical systems by Two aircraft types can differ
the A350s carbon systems on the A380.
converting control inputs from a manufacturing and
fibre construction that It also has high system
into electrical signals systems point of view, but
is highly resistant to redundancy by design
that are sent to flight- they can be of common type
corrosion and fatigue. so a defect can be
control computers, which certification provided certain
This reduces lifetime safely tolerated for
reconvert the impulses criteria such as handling are
maintenance costs by fixing at main base
into instructions for control sufficiently similar.
up to 40% thanks to back up
surfaces such as ailerons
systems available to
or elevators.
Easier system take over

modifications Less inventory

System upgrades investment Brake to Vacate is an
can be done through Head-up display provides
Advanced avionics innovative feature of the
software instead of the pilot with essential flight
means that fewer spare aircrafts autobrake system
hardware upgrades information and guidance in
parts are needed in whereby a pilot can nominate
in the workshop the forward field of view for all
stock their chosen runway exit
quicker to perform and flight phases. It is a see-through
on an airport map on the
requiring no spare parts device that helps pilots fly more
Diagnostics accurately, displaying flying
navigation display, which
optimises brake use and
Improved maintenance symbols overlaying the real
expedites vacation of the
diagnostics for faster outside world view to improve
runway.
troubleshooting, which situational awareness.
results in improved
operational reliability

A350 Special Issue 07

Enhancing customer well-being and
the overall experience
David Howgego, Head of Cabin Engineering

The A350 provides passengers with a fresh new cabin

experience that begins the moment they step on board.

The cabin is more spacious and there is more overhead

stowage space thats a stress buster right there! Adding
to the feeling of well-being is the LED mood lighting, which
changes colour according to the flight phase and helps
combat jetlag. The acoustics of the cabin let passengers
whisper and still be understood by their travelling
companions, and, of course, our cabin crew.

One of the most significant changes is the lower cabin altitude.

Traditionally, aircraft cabins are pressurised to a cabin altitude of
8,000ft. But in the A350, the cabin is pressurised to 6,000ft and
this means there is more oxygen in the air, and that can make a
big difference to reducing passenger fatigue.

Maximising passenger living space is another fundamental

element of passenger well-being, and with the A350 we have
introduced a series of thoughtful updates all designed to raise
levels of comfort.

The Business Class seat retains the best features of the

current product, but with a bigger sleeping surface and additional
stowage space. Technically, the introduction of a fully flat floor
was challenging but has made a real difference to the passenger
experience and available space. We have also worked hard to
remove seatbelt-mounted airbags from nearly all seats another
significant improvement from the current design.

The amazing new inflight entertainment (IFE) system will be

popular with a modern interface as well as inflight connectivity
for the first time in our fleet. Another one of the details that will be
appreciated by our customers is the Do Not Disturb and Wakeup
Call feature operable via their personal TV.

Working with Studio F.A. Porsche, we have created a new

Premium Economy seat among the highlights are the personal
reading light, dedicated personal storage space and an eye-level
tablet dock. The major new initiative for the Economy Seat is a
redesigned headrest that hugs the head, which brings benefits
in terms of sleep and relaxation.

Hand-in-hand with the seat redesign comes not just a new

look, but a new feel for soft products. More on p11.

Catching the A350:

Deployment plan LONDON
GATWICK DSSELDORF
PARIS

June 2016 Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Taipei ROME

July 2016 Bangkok, Singapore

Sept 2016 London Gatwick, Dsseldorf HONG

KONG TAIPEI

Nov 2016 Paris, Auckland, Rome

BANGKOK MANILA

HO CHI
MINH CITY

SINGAPORE

AUCKLAND

08 A350 Special Issue

The seats
passenger makes a difference to their comfort.

We also know that passengers value ample storage space, and

we have to ensure that moveable parts are arranged coherently
and function intuitively and seamlessly. We wanted to create a
Rachel Khong,
comfortable and seamless sleeping experience for passengers,
Manager Product Premium Cabin & Ground to ensure that they travel well with us and arrive fully rested.

Throughout the development process, three rounds of

passenger testing were organised; passengers feedback had
The first step on the journey to provide our passengers with
been instrumental in shaping the final product design.
comfort while onboard the A350 began with selecting the most
appropriate seat concept. While I had overall responsibility for the Business Class seats,
my colleague Cindy Lam (see 12), oversaw the development of
We then worked on optimising the seat concept spatially,
the Premium Economy and Economy seats. More details about
keeping in mind that every inch that is given back to the
them on the opposite page.

Business Class
Designed by Studio F.A. Porsche, the new Business Class seat builds on its award-winning long-haul predecessor with numerous enhancements.
The flexible sleeping surface caters to different passengers sleeping positions, the fully flat floor enhances accessibility and there is more storage space.

2 3

1. Improved amenity box with power socket and USB

port. Concealed vanity mirror and headset

2. Fully flat bed our most generous bed surface yet

3. Dimmable reading light, video handset, seat

controller

4. Do Not Disturb and Wakeup Call lights

5. Fully flat floor enables additional storage space

4 5 6 6. Water bottle stowage under retractable armrest

10 A350 Special Issue

Premium Economy Class
The A350 sees the launch of the new B/E Aerospace Premium Economy seat. Designed by Studio F.A. Porsche, each seat features
a larger recline angle, enlarged amenities storage and a personal reading light features that set a new standard for the class.
New soft products

Pillows
Business new smooth cotton blend for the pillow case
Premium Economy newly designed pillow case with a faux
linen front and poly cotton at the back
Economy newly designed pillow case of linen, cotton & polyester

1. Personal reading light

introduced for the first time in
Premium Economy

2. Amenity storage box ideal

1 2
4 5
for holding small items.
Translucent material for easy
3 checking
3. Cocktail table slides out as an
additional surface
Blankets
4. In-seat power and USB port
Business quality improved with new linen-textured material
5. Retractable armrest enhances Premium Economy comforter with much enhanced
personal space comfort, instead of lightweight blanket
6. Full legrest with leather- Economy blanket made from recycled plastic bottles
6 padded footrest

Economy Class
The Economy Class cabin is rejuvenated with a new green fabric, bringing a fresh look consistent with our branding ethos.
Thoughtful new features such as the Cathay Pacific proprietary six-way headrest enhance the overall travel experience.

Headrest and covers

Premium Economy Synthetic leather headrest, replacing
non-woven cover
Economy synthetic leather headrest for better comfort,
easier cleaning and more environmentally friendly as it can
be reused

Trays and service ware

2 3
The new Economy tray design is inspired by Asian bento boxes.
1. Power socket under every seat
Everything fits more snugly on the tray and theres an emphasis
on reducing material usage without compromising on look and
2. Six-way headrest hugs the
quality
4 head to enhance comfort

3. Enhanced tray table Addition of long condiment bowl

4. USB port under personal TV Aluminium napkin ring
5. Tablet holder at eye level Thicker top edges give a premium look
Matte finish aluminium lid
6. Cup holder
Tray mat replaced with non-skid coating
7. Additional stowage for small
5 6 7 items

A350 Special Issue 11

Inflight
we continue to invest in our inflight entertainment (IFE) offering,
taking every opportunity to upgrade and set new benchmarks.

entertainment
But passengers expectations have evolved. Now, people
expect a greater variety and choice of films, and, most
importantly, they want to stay connected while in the air.

We took all these into consideration when we created an

enhanced IFE experience. First of all, the A350 uses the state-
of-the art Panasonic eX3 platform with HD personal TVs in all
Cindy Lam, classes.

Manager Product Economy Cabin & Inflight Entertainment By leveraging higher capacity servers, the A350 has a larger
library of movies and TV series. We have also introduced a new
interactive 3D map, more games, and a wide collection of digital
magazines.

Cathay Pacific was one of the first airlines to introduce personal The A350 is our first aircraft type equipped with satellite
TVs on every seat with audio video on demand capability. Today, connectivity. You will find out more on p13.

Welcome Screen
Features slideshows of content available,
and provides information such as flight
and seat number.

The main menu on the left makes content

navigation easier, while the settings menu
on the top right allows quick access to
brightness, volume and language control.

Seven languages are supported, which

include: English, Traditional Chinese,
Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean,
French and German.

Watch & Listen Read & Play

Air show View from the flight deck Magazines City guides
Interactive 3D maps allow passengers to Real-time visual from the head-up display A wide choice of popular international and Information for most Cathay destinations and
browse the globe up to street-level detail Hong Kong magazine titles points of interest in Hong Kong

Satellite TV Albums Live text news Play games

Three available live television channels: BBC, A repertoire of international music Passengers can browse Hong Kong and Greater Large selection of games, including new ones
CNN and Euronews China news, updated throughout the flight such as Angry Birds World Tour and 2048

12 A350 Special Issue

Exclusive features for Connectivity
Business Class
Do Not Disturb
Passengers can advise cabin crew if they do not wish
to be disturbed during the flight by selecting the Do
Not Disturb feature on either the video handset or
personal TV.

Wake-up Call
On long-haul flights, passengers can advise cabin
crew of the time they wish to be awoken, by selecting
the wake-up function.

With the launch of the A350, passengers have the opportunity to stay connected on board using their own mobile devices for the first time.

Cathay Pacific Wi-Fi portal Internet via personal devices

Access is free for the following content: For a fee, access the following content via Wi-Fi capable devices*:
Cathaypacific.com and Cathay Pacific partner websites Send or receive email
such as Net-a-porter.com Browse the web
3D moving map Shop online
The Cathay Pacific duty free shopping catalogue Instant messaging
Destination city guides Social media

Service availability Prices for onboard internet

Gate to gate from departure to arrival. Access to websites Flights of six hours and less US$12.95
available from 10,000 feet after takeoff to 10,000 feet Flights above six hours US$19.95
before landing. One hour continuous usage on all flights US$9.95
Interact
*Multiple devices can share a Wi-Fi pass but only one device can be
connected at a time. Payment can only be made onboard.

Service availability
From 10,000 feet after takeoff to 10,000 feet before landing

Provide feedback
Passengers can provide feedback to Cathay Pacific
directly from their personal TV

Satellite TV
Access is free for the following channels:
BBC
CNN
Euronews

Shop
Place orders directly from the personal TV. Browsing
partners sites, such as Net-a-Porter.com, is free
Service availability
Mobile roaming (mid-2016)
Gate to gate from departure to arrival
Send and receive mobile messages. Use data roaming from a
mobile phone (voice calls are not permitted onboard)

A350 Special Issue 13

Higher payload:
good news
for Cargo
Mark Sutch,
General Manager Cargo Sales & Marketing

As the largest air cargo carrier in Asia, and indeed one of the largest
worldwide, the opportunity to offer new capacity, greater frequency
and new destinations is key for the long-term development of our
cargo business. The A350 brings this to the table.

The increased efficiencies that have been developed with
this new generation of aircraft allow for significantly improved
cargo capability over the existing Airbus fleet. Where the A350
is deployed on routes currently being operated by the A330
and A340, there will be a big boost to the airlines cargo payload
capability and thus revenue.
The deployment of the A350, as with our existing non-freighter
fleet, will be determined by passenger demand and the economic
case, and will be strongly augmented by cargo revenue. As
is often the reality, cargo contribution to a flight can be the
determining factor with regards to the financial success of new
routes. This will certainly remain true with the A350.
Will we use the aircraft differently? Essentially no the
characteristics of containerised or palletised cargo do not
change. The real benefits lie in the increased payload the aircraft
brings as well a greater range of destinations and frequency that
we envisage in the years to come.
Cathay Pacific is a combination carrier; we have a large fleet of
dedicated freighters and heavily leverage the passenger bellies to
feed and de-feed the network. The A350 supports this strategy
and is an exciting new prospect.

Greener in all flight phases

Better air quality
NOx emissions 35% below international
standard requirements
Governments worldwide are introducing more stringent
regulations, while NGOs, consumers and investors are also Quieter take-off
expecting airlines to do more to reduce their environmental impact. Departure Noise Abatement Departure Procedures
optimises thrust and flight path to reduce noise
Todays aircraft are already 70% more fuel efficient and more
than 75% quieter than those at the beginning of the jet age. And
with each new generation of aircraft design, a step change is made
Lower carbon emissions
towards better fuel efficiency and noise reduction and the A350 is
no exception. 25% less CO2 burn per passenger kilometre

Designed for All A350 deliveries from Toulouse will use fuel that contains a
10% blend of biofuel. The biofuel is made from sustainable sugars,
Fly the shortest distance
Extended range-ETOPS capable of flying

greener flying
Evelyn Chan,
Head of Environmental Affairs
Today, there is increasing pressure on the aviation sector to tackle
the environmental issues of air, emissions, and noise pollution.
In 2013, the global aviation industry produced 705 million
tonnes of CO2. In addition, jet engines generate a large amount of
noise, which can affect communities adjacent to busy airports.
using a process of fermentation whereby modified yeast produces extended routes by the shortest distance
hydrocarbons that can be processed into jet fuel. Not only does
this fuel have lower life cycle CO2 than fossil fuel, biofuel also burns Cruise Improved aerodynamics
cleaner. The intent of using biofuel on these flights is for Cathay to Wings are quieter and are able to adapt while
become accustomed to flying on renewable fuel as we move closer to airborne to maximise aerodynamic efficiency
larger volumes becoming available over the next three to five years.
In terms of aircraft construction, the prevalent use of carbon
Efficient descent approach
fibre in the airframe further reduces its weight, leading to higher
Latest technology optimises flight path to
fuel efficiency and hence lower emissions. Furthermore, the A350
reduce emissions and noise
makes use of the latest technologies in aerodynamics and design
to enhance operational efficiency. Low exterior noise
Well below ICAOs international standard
Even the way the new aircraft is painted is environmentally
requirements
friendlier: the paint used in the A350 contains fewer chemicals, and is
applied using thermal spray rather than the standard chrome-plating Arrival
Efficient airport operations
process, leading to less paint and solvent being used overall. Automated Brake to Vacate technology to
expedite vacation of runways after landing

14 A350 Special Issue

A350 Special Issue 15
 A350
takes to the skies
Its our people who
made this happen

Publisher Tom Owen | Managing Editor Mark Tindall | Editor Kawai Wong | Designer Ray Lo | Photographer Karen Yung, Kingsley Birkett, Eric Leung, Ryan Yeung, Victor Gomes | Writer Ann Williams | Graphics & Publication Specialist Katy Lam

Special thanks Bob Taylor