BOC Aviation delivers three A350XWBs to Qatar Airways

BOC Aviation has delivered three new Airbus A350-900 aircraft to Qatar Airways - the launch customer of the model, currently operating a fleet of 38 -900s. 

Photo by: @aviation24_be

The new aircraft are part of purchase-and-leaseback deal for a total of three planes. The last delivery took place on September 27, BOC Aviation announced on September 30, 2019. All three aircraft are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. 

“This speed at which this transaction was executed reflects the agility of both teams, and speaks to the close cooperation and strong relationship that we have built up with Qatar Airways over the past 20 years, [...]” Robert Martin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BOC Aviation, is quoted as saying in the press release.

Airbus A350XWB is no newcomer to the Qatari airline’s fleet. The Gulf carrier already flies 48 A350 XWBs (including both the -900 and -1000 versions). It is the second most popular aircraft type in the fleet of 229 aircraft, excelled only by Boeing 777 wide-bodies. 

The A350 XWB Family comes in two variants: the A350-900 and A350-1000. The -900 variant entered service back in January 2015, withl aunch customer Qatar Airways. Airbus is reportedly preparing to launch the A350-1000ULR, an ultra-long-range variant of the largest member of the A350 XWB family of jetliners.

As of August 31, 2019, Airbus held 913 orders for A350XWB jets, of which 300 had already been delivered and operational. The -900 is smaller and more popular version of the aircraft. To the date, 733 orders (and 273 deliveries) were of the type. For comparison, the -1000 version had accumulated 180 orders of which 27 are already flying.