UAE travel: What is so special about the Airbus A350, and why are airlines clamouring for it

Dubai: The Airbus A350 has emerged as a favourite among airlines globally, and carriers in the UAE are no exception, with both Emirates and Etihad Airways embracing the aircraft in their aggressive fleet expansion plans. Across the region, major airlines like Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airways, EgyptAir, and Turkish Airlines have also placed significant orders for this modern jetliner. Other notable customers include, Air France, Air India, Air Mauritius, and Asiana Airlines.

According to Airbus, the French manufacturer, the A350 family had secured 1,391 firm orders from 60 distinct customers by May 2025. By April 2025, 655 aircraft had been delivered, leaving a healthy backlog of 736 jets yet to be fulfilled. Currently, 654 A350s are in active service with 38 different operators.

So, what makes this wide-body, twin-engine aircraft so incredibly appealing to the airline industry?

The A350 is a long-haul, wide-body airliner powered by two engines. The initial concept for the A350 emerged in 2004 as Airbus's answer to Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. The A350 family consists of two primary variants: the A350-900 and the longer A350-1000. Airbus had also planned an A350-800 – the smallest variant in the A350 family, designed to seat around 276 passengers in a typical three-class configuration and offer a long range. However, Airbus ultimately cancelled it.

Airbus has said that both aircraft (-900 and -1000) types demonstrate exceptional efficiency across various flight distances, from short regional hops to ultra-long-haul journeys up to 9,700 nautical miles. They can accommodate between 300 and 410 passengers in a typical three-class configuration and 480 in a high-density, single-class layout.

The maiden commercial flight of the A350-900 took place on January 15, 2015, with Qatar Airways as the launch operator. The longer A350-1000 followed suit, entering service with the same airline on February 24, 2018. As of April 2025, Singapore Airlines holds the title of the largest operator with a fleet of 65 A350s, while Turkish Airlines stands as the largest customer with a remarkable 110 aircraft on order.

In an industry where airlines constantly strive to optimise operational costs and minimise their environmental impact, the A350’s enhanced efficiency is a significant draw. It offers a 25 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions compared to older aircraft.

Notably, the aircraft can operate with a blend of up to 50 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with the ambitious goal of achieving 100 per cent SAF capability by 2030.

Powering the A350 are advanced Trent XWB engines, a product of collaboration between Airbus and Rolls-Royce. Combined with a lightweight airframe constructed from over 70 per cent advanced materials like composites and titanium, the A350 boasts improved fuel efficiency, enabling airlines to expand their reach, tap into new markets, and operate existing routes more economically.

With a track record of over 1.58 million flights across more than 1,240 routes and the safe transportation of over 400 million passengers (marked by a single airport-related hull loss incident), the Airbus A350 has successfully succeeded the older A340. It directly competes with Boeing's established 777, its forthcoming 777X variant, and the technologically advanced 787 Dreamliner in the large, long-haul twinjet category.

While the A350 enjoys a strong reputation, it has not been entirely without its share of controversies. One recurring concern concerns engine issues, specifically with the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. In September 2024, Cathay Pacific encountered an engine failure on one of its Airbus A350-1000s. This incident, linked to a fuel nozzle problem in the Rolls-Royce XWB-97 engine, led to the temporary grounding of 15 Cathay Pacific's A350 aircraft for thorough inspections and necessary part replacements.

As a proactive measure, Etihad Airways also conducted checks on its A350 fleet to ensure the integrity of its engines.

Another notable issue involved a protracted dispute between Airbus and Qatar Airways concerning "accelerated surface degradation" observed on the A350's carbon composite fuselage. Qatar Airways raised concerns about potential safety risks, consequently grounded a significant portion of their A350 fleet. This disagreement escalated to legal action before both parties reached an amicable settlement in February 2023, with the agreement's details remaining confidential. The resolution paved the way for repairing Qatar's affected aircraft and resuming pending A350 deliveries.

Emirates has placed a substantial order for 65 Airbus A350-900 aircraft. This commitment includes an additional 15 A350s announced at the Dubai Airshow 2023, adding to the initial order of 50 placed in 2019.

The first A350 joined the Emirates fleet in November 2024, and deliveries are expected to continue over the coming years. Emirates currently operates five A350s, deploying them on short and medium-haul routes. Adelaide is set to become the first long-haul destination in the airline’s network to be served by the Airbus A350 (A350-900 ULR), with flights on the EK440/441 service commencing on December 1.

Currently, Emirates’ A350s serve six other short and medium-haul destinations, including Edinburgh, Kuwait, and Mumbai. The airline plans to expand the A350’s reach to more cities soon, such as Oslo, Istanbul, and Ho Chi Minh City. By the end of this year, Emirates anticipates serving 17 global cities with the A350, as confirmed by an airline spokesperson to Gulf News.

Etihad Airways also has many Airbus A350s on order, including passenger and freighter versions. The airline took delivery of its sixth A350-1000 last month and has 14 more of this variant on order. Additionally, Etihad has ordered seven A350F (freighter) aircraft, demonstrating its commitment to expanding its modern, fuel-efficient fleet.