Yemenia orders ten Airbus A350 XWBs

Yemenia, the official carrier of the state of Yemen, based in Sanaa, has signed a firm contract for ten Airbus A350 XWB aircraft as part of its long haul fleet modernization programme. The selection of the A350-800 by the airline followed a thorough evaluation of the aircraft and its competitor.

Yemenia’s A350 XWBs will be configured in a comfortable two-class configuration with seating for 18 passengers in First Class and 265 in Economy.

Captain Abdulkhaled Al-Kadi, Chairman of Yemenia said: "we are delighted to have secured the future of our long-range fleet with the Airbus A350. We are looking forward to introducing the aircraft on our intercontinental routes to and from Yemen. Yemen Airways is on the right track to implement its fleet modernization program, and to be well positioned to grow to meet high passenger demand”.

“We are proud that Yemenia has chosen the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft as a springboard for their ambitious growth plans. The new A350 is the ideal modern aircraft to help develop services from Yemen to Europe, Asia and the US. Yemenia’s decision to buy the A350 XWB is another great endorsement of our aircraft”, said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO.

Yemenia currently has four A310s and two A330-200s in its long haul fleet, operating from its base in Sanaa and Aden to destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, as well as possible further expansions of the network in Africa in the future.

The A350 XWB (Extra Wide-Body) is Airbus’ newest aircraft model and will be the world’s most technically advanced aircraft when it enters service in 2013. The A350 XWB is designed to increase productivity, offer unparalleled levels of passenger comfort in its class whilst offering the lowest operating costs and lowest seat mile costs of any aircraft in its category. Addressing environmental concerns, the A350XWB will be one of the most fuel and eco-efficient aircraft ever.