Summary
- Edelweiss has chosen the Airbus A350 as its future fleet, primarily as a consequence of its fuel efficiency and extra improvements over its current fleet.
- The brand new aircraft will probably be sourced from LATAM Airlines and delivered of their current configurations, with plans to retrofit them later.
- The Airbus A350 will bring significant increases in efficiency, consuming 25% less fuel, producing 25% less CO2, and being as much as 50% quieter in comparison with the previous Airbus A340-300 models.
Swiss leisure carrier Edelweiss has announced it can be upgrading its fleet. The carrier has chosen the Airbus A350 to hold it into the long run. The primary of six aircraft will arrive sometime next summer, with the last arriving by the tip of 2026.
Back to a full fleet.
Edelweiss selected the aircraft, especially for its fuel efficiency. The carrier’s long-haul fleet currently consists of 5 Airbus A340-300 quadjets. The Airbus A350-900 aircraft will join the Edelweiss steadily as they turn out to be available and offer several additional improvements over the prevailing fleet, including a more prolonged range and bigger windows. Edelweiss CEO Bernd Bauer:
“The modernisation of the long-haul fleet is a milestone in Edelweiss’ almost 30-year history. Edelweiss will thus operate considered one of the youngest long-haul fleets in Europe from 2026.”
Photo: Edelweiss
The brand new aircraft will bring Edelwiess’ long-haul feel back as much as pre-pandemic levels once they’re all delivered.
Where did they arrive from?
The brand new planes don’t come as a part of an Airbus order but slightly from one other airline. The Lufthansa Group carrier confirmed that the planes will come from LATAM Airlines, which retired them in 2021. The aircraft have been stored in Victorville, California, ever since. Edelweiss confirmed it’s planning to retrofit the aircraft, but they will probably be delivered of their current configurations.
The aircraft can have 339 seats when first delivered. That is split between 246 seats in economy class, 63 seats in Economy Max with more legroom and greater reclining angle, and 30 seats in business class that will be converted into a completely flat bed. Each seat may also have large screens for the in-flight entertainment system and USB charging ports. Passengers flying in business class have a fair larger screen that measures 19 inches.
Photo: Edelweiss
The choice to attend on retrofitting the aircraft was attributed to “Worldwide material shortages and reduced maintenance & engineering capacities.” The carrier only mentioned the primary 4 aircraft operating of their LATAM configuration, leaving room to take a position that the ultimate two will probably be modified before delivery. Edelweiss is investing a “three-digit million sum” within the fleet renewal program. It guarantees a wholly latest cabin configuration with latest seats and interior design, which will probably be revealed at a later date. The aircraft will bring significant increases in efficiency, with Bernd Bauer continued highlighting how essential that is to the carrier:
“The design of the Airbus A350-900 sets latest standards in efficiency with state-of-the-art technologies and outstanding aerodynamics. It’s some of the environmentally friendly long-haul aircraft on the planet.”
Photo: Edelweiss
In comparison with the four-engine Airbus A340-300, the brand new planes will devour 25% less fuel, produce 25% less CO2, and be as much as 50% quieter.
Where will they go?
The Airbus A350-900 has a fair greater range than the Airbus A340-300, allowing for the potential of recent destinations from the carrier’s hub at Zurich-Kloten International Airport. In keeping with the airline, the fleet will probably be deployed on Edelweiss’s long-haul network. This includes over 20 holiday destinations in North, Central, South America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean. The airline is ready to introduce its first South American services in November, with links to the Colombian capital of Bogotá and Cartagena on the Northern coast.