Finnair is the first Airbus A350 customer to reconfirm its order as the new XWB variant. The airline has increased its commitment to 11 of the type, and is ordering six Airbus A330/A340s as part of an accelerated replacement programme for its Boeing MD-11s.
Finnair had originally ordered nine A350s before Airbus revamped the twinjet into the XWB version last year. As part of the agreement, worth €2 billion ($2.6 billion), the airline is also to acquire two additional A350 XWBs: a fourth A340, plus an additional six A330/A340s. The split has yet to be finalised.
Finland's government recently suggested Finnair acquire convertible A330 tankers that could be leased to the military, but stresses that the airline's order for A330/A340s is unconnected.
Source: Flight International