LUFTWAFFE ORDERS THREE AIRBUS A350-900'S TO REPLACE AIRBUS A340-300
The German government has funded the Luftwaffe to purchase three A350-900’s for government transport use following another highly embarrassing technical failure on board one of its A340-300’s late last year.
One of the aircraft carrying German Chancellor Angela Merkel, was forced to return to Germany while on its way to the G20 meeting in Buenos Aries in December 2018. It meant that she missed the opening ceremony and a key conference as she was nearly 20 hours late arriving, having had to fly on a commercial service last-minute.
Similar issues have occurred in the last three years with other older government A310’s and A340’s. Two A340’s had been purchased from Lufthansa in 2009 and refitted for use by 2011 but are now 20 years old.
Some western governments are very shy about providing VIP aircraft seeing it as expensive to justify in a democracy on strained budgets. France operates a VIP A330 for the President of the Republic, but Britain, where VIP transport is deeply frowned upon, has only the RAF MRTT A330’s .
These can be configured for VIP use as needed, but can also be a tanker or passenger transport and are often leased out to Thomas Cook at peak summer periods. One is available for use by the Queen or Prince of Wales, on state visits or the Prime Minister on Government business if its considered appropriate. British Government officials prefer to charter BA or Virgin Atlantic aircraft rather than be seen using an RAF resource.
The Luftwaffe A350’s will be purchased in 2019, 2021 and 2023 with a standard cabin and refitted later with private rooms and conference facilities. They’ll be the first A350’s used by any government.
No comments:
Post a Comment