Airbus Updates No.3691

 

Tibet Airlines A319 burns-out at Chongqing

On 12 May 2022, Tibet Airlines A319 B-6425 (5157) was damaged beyond repair when a fire broke-out when the aircraft experienced a runway excursion. Operating as flight TV9833 to Nyingchi, the Airbus apparently needed to abort its take-off at high-speed, resulting in the aircraft to leave the runway and shear off its landing gear and both engines, sparking a fire.

Of the 122 people on board (nine crew, 113 passengers), 40 sustained injuries in the incident. So far, luckily, no fatalities have been reported.

Tibet Airlines is a subsidiary of Air China and has its headquarters at Lhasa. It has a remaining fleet of 27 A319s, six A320s and five A330-300s.

Photo via Twitter.

Airbus Updates No.1516

Tibet Airlines receives its first A330

242 tonne maximum take-off weight for high altitude airport operations

30 JUNE 2016 PRESS RELEASE

Lhasa based Tibet Airlines has received its first widebody aircraft, an A330-200 with increased 242 tonne maximum take-off-weight (MTOW), following a handover in Toulouse, France. The increased MTOW, the first A330-200 in China, allows airlines to operate from the most demanding high altitude airports where take off performance, additional range and improved operating costs are key.

The aircraft is configured in a three-class cabin layout (12 business, 32 premium economy, 235 economy) and deployed to open up new international routes. 

Bai Weisan, President of Tibet Airlines said: “We are extremely excited to receive our first widebody airliner – an enhanced A330 from Airbus and are very confident at its high-altitude performance. The A330 Family will become our core widebody to be deployed on our new international routes thanks to its flexibility, comfort and efficiency. With the A330, we are looking forward more passengers from all over the world to flying with Tibet Airlines and visiting Tibet.”

Eric Chen, President of Airbus China said: “We congratulate Tibet Airlines on receiving its first A330 and we express our gratitude for the confidence demonstrated in our leading A330. With an operating base at high altitude Lhasa Airport and routes covering all of Tibet’s civil airports, the airline already benefits from the unrivalled performance of Airbus single-aisle aircraft. We are proud the A330 is Tibet Airline’s backbone for international route expansion.”

Tibet Airlines currently operates an all-Airbus fleet comprising of 14 A319s and 2 A320s. The airline is famous for its high-altitude operations with its operating base at Lhasa Airport which is at over 3,500 metres altitude. With the proven performance of Airbus narrow body, especially the A319 in high-altitude airports, Tibet Airlines has been successfully connecting Tibet with more domestic cities like Beijing and Shanghai. The A330 is the first widebody equipped with the Required Navigation Performance with Authorisation Required (RNP-AR) and the only widebody airliner today flying over Tibet’s sky. It will exceed the airlines’ expectation on high-altitude performance also offer unrivalled efficiency, also greater comfort to the passengers.

The A330 Family includes Freighter, VIP, and Military Transport/Tanker variants, has now attracted more than 1,600 orders. Over 1,200 A330 Family aircraft are flying with more than 100 operators worldwide. The A330 is one of the world’s most efficient aircraft with best in class operating economics. With numerous on-going product enhancements entering service in the coming years, the A330 Family remains the most cost-efficient and capable widebody aircraft. Today’s A330 have an operational reliability of 99.4 percent.

Airbus Updates No.1149

China’s Tibet Airlines takes delivery of its first A319 with Sharklets

Wing-tip devices further enhance the A319’s superior high altitude performance

11 APRIL 2014 PRESS RELEASE

Lhasa based Tibet Airlines from the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China has taken delivery of its first A319 with Sharklets. The aircraft which was handed over at the Airbus Tianjin Delivery Centre (ATDC) joins Tibet Airlines’ existing fleet of eight existing A319s. The aircraft is the 165^th assembled at Airbus’Tianjin Final Assembly Line (FALC).

The aircraft is powered by CFM56-5B engines and features a comfortable two class cabin, seating 128 passengers with eight in business class and 120 in economy.

Tibet Airlines’ base is Gongga Airport, Lhasa, is one of the world’s highest airports at an altitude of 12,000 feet. The new A319 is certificated for high altitude airport operation and Required Navigation Performance – Authorisation Required (RNP-AR) and Satcom is installed.

RNP-AR procedures represent today the most modern navigation technique, allowing the aircraft to fly precisely along predefined routes using on-board navigation systems and the GPS-based ‘Global Navigation Satellite System’ (GNSS). The high accuracy provided by RNP-AR is especially important for airlines operating in and out of airports in mountainous regions. Tibet Airlines has selected Airbus ProSky, an Airbus subsidiary, as its strategic partner for its RNP-AR operations.

Sharklets are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall. They are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft and standard on all members of the new A320neo family. They offer operators up to four per cent fuel burn reduction on longer range sectors and provide the flexibility of either adding an additional 100 nautical miles range or increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms.

The FALC in Tianjin is based on the latest state-of-the-art Airbus single aisle final assembly line in Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft delivered in China are assembled to the same standards as those assembled and delivered in Europe. Airbus has delivered 165 Tianjin assembled A320 Family aircraft. The aircraft are in service with 13 Chinese and Asian airlines.

The A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is the world’s best-selling and most modern single aisle aircraft Family. To date, over 10,200 aircraft have been ordered and over 6,000 delivered to operators worldwide. With proven reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single-aisle aircraft. 

Airbus Updates No.857

China’s Tibet Airlines takes delivery of its first FALC A319

23 November 2012Press Release

China’s Tibet Airlines has taken delivery of its first A319 assembled at the Airbus Tianjin Final Assembly Line (FALC). The A319 delivered today is the fifth A319 to join the all Airbus fleet operated by lhasa based Tibet Airlines. The airline received its first Airbus A319 in July 2011 in Hamburg, Germany.

The newly delivered A319 accommodates 128 passengers in a two-class configuration with eight premium seats and 120 economy seats. The aircraft is powered by CFM56-5B engines.

The aircraft will operate from Lhasa Gongga Airport, which at 12,000 feet in altitude is one of the world’s highest. t o. It will fly the route between Lhasa and Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong in Southern China with a stop-over in Chengdu, Southwestern China.

The newly introduced A319 is certificated for high altitude airport operation and RNP-AR (Required Navigation Performance – Authorisation Required) and Satcom installed.

RNP-AR procedures represent today the most modern navigation technique, allowing the aircraft to fly precisely along a predefined route using on-board navigation systems and the GPS-based ‘Global Navigation Satellite System’ (GNSS). RNP AR is especially important for airlines operating in and out of high altitude airports. Tibet Airlines has selected Quovadis, an Airbus subsidiary, as its strategic partner for its RNP-AR operations.

“The new aircraft will fly between Shenzhen and Lhasa and contribute to further development of the two areas”, said Yin Huixin, Vice President of Tibet Airlines.

“We are honored that our modern Airbus A319 aircraft will contribute to the development of civil aviation on the Tibetan plateau and I’m really confident that the FALC assembled A319 will serve the need of Tibet Airlines”, said Airbus China President Laurence Barron.

The FALC in Tianjin is based on the latest state-of-the-art Airbus single aisle final assembly line in Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft delivered in China are assembled to the same standards as those assembled and delivered in Europe.

Airbus has delivered 105 Tianjin assembled A320 Family aircraft to 11 operators since the inauguration of the Final Assembly Line in 2008, which is the first Airbus final assembly line outside Europe.

The A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is recognized as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. With more than 8, 600 aircraft sold, and over 5, 300 aircraft delivered to more than 350 customers and operators worldwide, the A320 Family is the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family. With 99.8 per cent reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft. Uniquely, the A320 Family offers a containerized cargo system, which is compatible with the worldwide standard wide-body system.