-900 variant of what? 330 or 350?

 

330-9 is what the media is reporting, along with whispers from management. The company is not too happy with the 359's performance; Airbus's "Sales Brochure" painted a nice picture that the aircraft could not deliver.

 

They have been very unhappy with the 330-900. I thought they liked the 350!

 

They like the idea of the 1000; it is supposed to be a CASM monster. The 359 High, Hot, and Heavy have been a big issue. The 339 has its own issues, but overall, most of what it serves, they like, and it is a NPS monster along with the 350s that are not in the LATAM configuration. The first LATAM-configured Airbus A350-900 is currently in Singapore for a "Cabin Refresh." This aircraft, along with all the new ones coming, will focus on a premium cabin configuration. Interestingly, this refresh will reduce the number of seats from 306 to 275, while the BOW will increase by 7,000 pounds, as the D1 seats are quite heavy. The incoming Boeing 787s are expected to feature D1 seats extending all the way back to the wing. Additionally, the Airbus A321neos currently at Amsterdam (AMS) is awaiting approval. So far, there have been five unsuccessful attempts, but they are optimistic that the sixth will be successful. These aircraft will be configured with 45 D1 seats, followed by C+ seats, and then the main cabin, primarily intended for transcontinental flights.

 

I think you meant the first non-LATAM configured aircraft is in Singapore for the new cabin. Pretty sure all of the LATAM birds have been through the cabin refresh.

 

same, I thought the 359 was doing most of what it was supposed to do. I don’t think AB ever meant it to be a 772LR replacement but seems to do well doing what the 772ER did.

The 339 struggles on some pretty basic stuff. On paper ICN/HND-west coast should be no problem for that plane yet we are replacing it with the 359 on those routes because it can’t even do that reliably.

For the sake of leaving passengers behind around the globe, I hope we have taken delivery of our last 330 and any future WB orders are 787s or 350s.

 

Isn’t the ultimate plan for the 350 to do pacific flying and the 330s for Europe and SA?

 

The 330's have no problem with long-haul (US-Europe or deep SA.) It's not meant for ULH.

I've been on the jet for almost a year (Europe and SA) and have yet to leave anyone behind.

 

That's a bingo.

The 339 is a dog. We got them cheap, so we did what we always do and nabbed them. Not going to see anymore unless AB basically gives them to us.

 

yes, but I believe that’s because the 330 can’t do anything else.

I wouldn’t consider 10-12 hour flights “ultra long haul”. My understanding is it’s still struggling with some of our Europe stuff (ATL-ATH/TLV, SLC-Europe). The fact it couldn’t reliably do near Asia from even our closest US hub without a payload hit makes me think we probably shouldn’t be getting a lot more of them if that’s where we are looking to expand