Aircraft
Airbus Focused on ‘Protecting’ A350, Speeding A320 Ramp Up
Other projects include A330-900neo with higher takeoff weight capability
Cathay Pacific's first A350-900 entered service on June 1. (Photo: Airbus)
Cathay Pacific's first A350-900 entered service on June 1. (Photo: Airbus)

Entering service on June 1, the first Cathay Pacific Airways Airbus A350-900 twin-aisle twinjet is the 24th example so far delivered to six operators as the manufacturer works hard to meet a target of 50 deliveries by year-end. With about 40 such widebody machines now in final assembly in Toulouse, France, the effort ranks alongside Airbus's plans to accelerate production of A320 single-aisle twinjets as the company’s two principal challenges, according to chief operating officer Tom Williams.