summary
- Eight airlines will fly A350-1000s to the US in February.
- It has 21 routes via 15 airports across the country.
- Cathay Pacific currently has -1000 flights to the US, but no plans to use them this summer.
In February, the United States had the second-highest number of flights by all wide-body (twin-aisle) aircraft in the world. Only China has more than this, mainly for the domestic market. The United States is the world’s leading or second-largest country for many widebody types and variants, including the Airbus A350-1000. It ranks second behind the UK in terms of flights operated by the variant.
US operates 1/5th of -1000 total flights
There are eight airlines using the A350-1000: Air Caraibes, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, French Bee, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic. They will fly this long aircraft to 35 countries around the world this month.
The US will be responsible for almost a fifth (19%) of all services, just one point behind the UK, which benefits from having two carriers based there. Depending on developments elsewhere, the U.S. could gain even more of an advantage once the aircraft ordered by Delta Air Lines arrive.
80 Aircraft: Which airlines will use the Airbus A350-1000 in January 2024?
So far, aircraft have been delivered to eight airlines.
Thanks to Japan Airlines putting its first A350-1000 into service on the New York-John F. Kennedy route on January 24, 2024, six out of eight people flew the same type of aircraft in the United States in February. That’s what I did. In addition to JAL, other airlines include British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Virgin Airways. (French bee deploys his A350-900s to the US, which doesn’t count here, while Air Caraïbes does not serve the US.)
The United States has more A350-1000 operators than any other country. This is followed distantly by India and Japan, each with four airlines.
Japan Airlines operates first Airbus A350-1000 flight to New York/JFK
The A350-1000 will fly every other day on this route until it returns to daily service in March.
There are 21 routes in February.
The six airlines are flying a total of 21 U.S. routes this month. Approximately 15 airports in the country use this large type, with New York JFK in first place (what a surprise!) The main reason is that Virgin Airlines has a 335-seat aircraft. This is because there are 2 to 4 flights per day.
- British Airways: From London Heathrow Airport to Austin, Boston, Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix and San Diego
- Cathay Pacific: From Hong Kong to Boston, Chicago, O’Hare, New York JFK
- etihad: From Abu Dhabi to Chicago O’Hare
- Japan Airlines: From Tokyo Haneda to New York JFK Airport
- qatar airways: Doha to Dallas Fort Worth, Houston Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Washington Dulles
- virgin: London Heathrow Airport to Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, New York JFK
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Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flight
No Cathay this summer?
Cathay does not intend to use its 334-seat A350-1000 to fly to the United States this summer, according to the latest schedule, which is subject to change as of February 16. Based on IATA’s slot season, the Northern airline will switch to its summer schedule on March 31st.
Cathay final departure -1000 from It is currently scheduled for March 30th in the US. There are no further plans, but that is subject to change. All three routes will be replaced by the smaller 280-seat A350-900. Only the Hong Kong-JFK flight, also operated by the 777-300ER, has two types of aircraft.
Have you ever flown on an A350-1000? Leave a comment and let us know which carrier you use.
