Airbus A350-1000 flights to increase across US with eight international carriers

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Airbus A350-1000 flights to increase across US with eight international carriers

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Airbus A350-1000 | Official Website

By Sky Industry News

Mar 21, 2025

Eight carriers will operate the Airbus A350-1000 to the US this summer, following a switch to summer schedules on March 30 based on IATA slot seasons. These carriers are British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, French bee, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Virgin Atlantic. Delta Air Lines is expected to introduce its examples soon.

According to Cirium Diio data, US A350-1000 services have increased by 20% compared to last summer. This variant now accounts for 27% of all A350- operated US flights, up from a quarter year-on-year.

Ethiopian Airlines' entry into Washington Dulles has contributed to this increase. The Star Alliance member received its first A350-1000 in November 2024 and now operates three of them. With a capacity of 395 seats, it is Ethiopian's second-largest aircraft after the Boeing 777-300ER. Approximately 12% of the seats are in business class, a higher proportion than other wide- body aircraft in their fleet.

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The growth is primarily driven by increased usage by Virgin Atlantic (+24%), Cathay Pacific (+42%), Etihad (+90%), and Japan Airlines (+51%). Japan Airlines received its first A350-1000 in December 2023 and currently has nine.

In contrast, British Airways' A350-1000 services have decreased by one-fifth year-on-year. They will operate only four US routes with this variant during the summer schedule.

From March 30 to October 25:

- Virgin Atlantic: Edinburgh to Orlando; London Heathrow to Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York JFK, and Orlando; Manchester to Atlanta, Las Vegas, New York JFK, and Orlando (40% of flights)

- Qatar Airways: Doha to Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Miami, New York JFK San Francisco (52% of flights)

- British Airways: London Heathrow to Denver Las Vegas Philadelphia Phoenix (8% of flights)

- Cathay Pacific: Hong Kong Boston Chicago O'Hare Dallas/Fort Worth New York JFK (36% of flights)

- Japan Airlines: Tokyo Haneda Dallas/Fort Worth New York JFK (16% of flights)

- Etihad Abu Dhabi Atlanta Chicago O'Hare New York JFK starting July (36%)

- Ethiopian Addis Ababa Washington Dulles via Rome outbound nonstop back (17%)

- French bee Paris Orly Newark up four weekly from April September only (10%)

Fifteen airports will see A350-1000 operations this summer including New York JFK which leads with nearly three tenths country total having Cathay Pacific Etihad Japan Airlines Qatar Airways Virgin serving there Big Apple airport over two half times second placed Dallas Fort Worth Texas airport's services risen by forty percent compared last summer due welcoming Cathay Pacific April joining true oneworld operation pushing up two places overtaking Orlando Las Vegas

New York JFK will have as many as twelve daily takeoffs during Thursdays between July September then operation follows:

London Heathrow five departures Virgin

Hong Kong two Cathay

Tokyo Haneda two Japan Airlines

Abu Dhabi one Etihad

Doha one Qatar Airways

Manchester one Virgin