Yemeni flag-carrier Yemenia is intending to acquire six Airbus A350-800s and place options on another four.
The Sana’a-based carrier, which already operates A330-200s like the one above, has signed a preliminary agreement with Airbus for deliveries from 2012, but has not made an engine selection for the type.
It will configure the 283-seat aircraft in a two-class arrangement with 18 first-class and 265 economy-class seats.
Yemenia, already an Airbus A330 operator, had been assessing the A350 against the rival Boeing 787 for its long-haul fleet-replacement programme.
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The agreement confirms plans outlined during the Arab Air Carriers Organisation conference in Sana’a last year that the airline was looking for six firm aircraft and four options, to be delivered from 2012, in order to simplify its fleet.
Yemenia chairman Capt Abdulkalek Saleh Al-Kadi says: “We are looking forward to introducing the aircraft on intercontinental routes to and from
“We are on the right track to implement our fleet-modernisation programme and are preparing for growth. Recent business trends are remarkably [good].”
Yemenia also operates four Airbus A310-300s and three Boeing 737-800s.
Source: Flight International
