News Review • First Airbus for JAL
Following a landmark deal in 2013, Japan Airlines has accepted delivery of its first Airbus aircraft. Airliner World’s Gordon Smith travelled to Toulouse to join the celebrations.
AIRBUS’ VAST customer delivery centre in Toulouse is no stranger to a little pomp and ceremony. The facility regularly plays host to impressive audio-visual displays, musical performances and other entertainment as part of the formal handover of jets to new customers. June 13 was no exception; there was a scintillating duet played on a Japanese grand piano and an interpretive dance routine conjuring abstract images of origami birds.
The real drama, however, had occurred in October 2013 when Airbus dramatically smashed Boeing’s iron grip on the JAL fleet with a landmark order. The purchase agreement for 31 A350 XWBs – 18 of the -900 variant and 13 of the larger -1000 model left industry observers, never mind Boeing executives, in awe. The carrier’s famous all-American aircraft portfolio was about to have a certain European flavour.
Domestic Focus
At the delivery ceremony, all eyes were on the airline’s first A350-900, JA01XJ (c/n 321). The jet will initially be deployed on major domestic route…
