South African Airways has taken delivery of a new Airbus A350-900.
It is the first of four aircraft expected to operate on SAA’s ultra-long-haul route between Johannesburg and New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport.
As the additional A350-900s are delivered, they will be deployed on more routes.
The business and economy-class cabins offer a quieter flight, with a total of 339 seats – 30 in business class seats and 309 in economy.
The first six rows in economy class offer extra leg-room and business class seats recline to lie-flat beds.
SAA will receive three more Airbus A350-900s over the next six weeks and all four aircraft are expected to be fully operational by mid-December. SAA will operate the aircraft for three years.
The first two aircraft are nine months old. The second and third aircraft are scheduled for arrival during the first week of November and the fourth will arrive in early December.
The last two aircraft are brand new and will be delivered to SAA directly from the Airbus factory in Toulouse. They are sub-leased from Air Mauritius and will also fly with SAA for three years.
