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THERE’S NOTHING LIKE boarding your flight and taking your seat only to realize that the cushion of your seat has more bounce and your entertainment console looks newer.
It’s always a pleasant surprise to discover that you’re flying in a sleek, new aircraft. For sure you’ll be testing out all the new features and taking lots of pictures to show your family and friends when you land.
But what if this opportunity doesn’t come again?
Fret not. Here’s a look some of the features available on the newest planes and the airlines that will be taking them to the skies:
Airbus A380
Launched in 2007, the double-deck wide-body Airbus A380 is the world’s largest passenger airliner.
It was initially named Airbus A3XX and designed to challenge Boeing’s monopoly in the large-aircraft market.
Inside Emirates’ Airbus A380 economy class cabin. Source: Shutterstock.
As of May 2018, Airbus had received 331 firm orders and delivered 226 aircraft, with Emirates being is the biggest A380 customer. The airlines had ordered 162 aircraft of which 103 have been delivered.
Etihad Airways’ A380 boasts an onboard suite with a private bathroom while Emirates’ A380 has shower spas in its first class cabin.
Although it can typically seat 544 passengers, Korean Air’s A380s have been configured to seat only 407 (with 301 in economy class) for maximum space.
Airlines: Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Air France, Singapore Airlines.
Airbus A350
The Airbus A350 aircraft, intended for long-haul flights, has been picked up by a number of major airlines worldwide.
Launched in 2015, it’s the first Airbus aircraft with both fuselage and wing structures made primarily of carbon fiber reinforced polymer.
Singapore Airlines’ premium economy class on board the Airbus A350. Source: Shutterstock.
Developed to challenge the long-haul, high-capacity Boeing 777 market, as of February 2018, the A350-1000 has so far attracted 169 orders from 11 airlines, according to AviationWeek.com.
It seats 280 to 366 passengers in typical three-class seating layouts and claims to offer one of the quietest cabins as well as optimized air quality.
Singapore Airlines has ordered the ultra long range version, the A360-900 ULR, to facilitate its the airline’s nonstop flights from Singapore to New York.
Airlines: Air Mauritius, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Delta, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an American long-haul, mid-size wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner made by Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Launched in 2011, it’s the first airlines with an airframe constructed primarily of composite materials.
Qatar Airways’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner business class seats. Source: Shutterstock.
The 787 Dreamliner promises improved fuel efficiency as it was designed to be 20 percent more fuel efficient than the Boeing 767.
It boasts mostly electrical flight systems, raked wingtips, and noise-reducing chevrons on its engine nacelles, as well as turbulence-dampening technology.
Passengers will love looking out of the aircraft’s windows, which are 65 percent larger than comparable planes – the largest windows in the market.
The plane is also the first airliner that features electro-chromatic dimmable passenger windows that do not require window shades to block out the light.
Airlines: Air France, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Qatar Airways.
Airbus A330neo
Made to rival the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the Airbus A330neo is a wide-body jet airliner currently under development by Airbus from the Airbus A330.
The “neo” in A33neo stands for “new engine option”, which reflects the makeover that it’s getting from the A330’s two-decade-old design, complete with new engines and new wingtips.
Airbus showcases its mock Airbus A330neo ‘Airspace’ economy cabin at its headquarters in Toulouse, France. Source: Shutterstock.
Its cabin interior has been completely overhauled as well, with economy class seats offering a more generous pitch and recline, thus allowing passengers to stretch out their legs more.
Other elements include larger lavatories (with soothing ambient sounds and aroma dispensers) and overhead bins, as well as star-like lighting effects on the cabin ceiling.
TAP Air Portugal is expected to take its A330neo to the skies on its maiden flight a little later this year.
Airlines: Delta Airlines, AirAsia X, Garuda Indonesia, WOW Air, Iran Air.
The post Have you flown on the latest passenger planes? appeared first on Travel Wire Asia.
Source: travelwireasia.com