Is The A350-2000 Airbus’ Next Aircraft?

The Airbus A350 entered service with Qatar Airways in January 2015, and since then, it has cemented its role as an industry leader in the widebody scene.

But how can Airbus continue cementing the A350’s legacy? Is that in the form of a once-discussed stretch dubbed an A350-2000, and would it be the manufacturer’s next aircraft?

Or is an A350-2000 simply of no interest for Airbus as the mid-2020s rapidly approach, thanks to an ever-evolving industry?

What Is The A350-2000?

An Airbus A350-2000, or an A350 Stretch as it has been dubbed, would be even larger than the A350-1000, which is just under 74 metres or 243ft.

The A350-1000 can accommodate upwards of 400 passengers and is considered the optimal and far more efficient replacement for the 777-300ER and A340-600.

An A350-2000 would look to address even further capacity concerns outlined by customers who potentially would be looking to replace their A380s.

Such a proposed Stretch dates back to the mid-2010s; however, no movement has occurred on the front of a proposed stretch.

If progressed, the type would likely be four extra metres long and able to seat up to 50 additional passengers, boosting revenues and customer opportunities.

According to analysts, despite the additional length and weight, great optimisation wouldn’t be required, and standard Rolls Royce engines could still be applied.

However, despite apparent logic around a decision highlighted by many, the aircraft hasn’t progressed, and Airbus has reaffirmed its stance that it focuses on other variants in the family.

This includes the specialised A350-1000ULR, a slightly modified -1000 specifically used for Qantas’ Project Sunrise flights.

Furthermore, Airbus is also progressing with an A350 Freighter, which is the manufacturer’s genuine attempt at taking market share away from Boeing in a sector that the American planemaker has long dominated.

As a result, while an A350-2000 was once discussed nearly a decade ago, Airbus has moved ahead with other variants while also focusing on existing ones and branching out the customer base.

Would An A350-2000 End The A380?

With Airbus committing to ending the A380 programme at the end of the 2010s and production ceasing a few years later, there have been questions about how airlines will replace the aircraft.

Ultimately, there is no other superjumbo on the market; thus, there are only two available high-capacity options to try to replace the A380 in terms of passenger capabilities.

Those two options are the A350-1000 and Boeing’s 777X. The latter remains uncertified, but many have argued that an A350 Stretch could give a genuine replacement to a customer like Emirates, whose calls for a new A380 went unanswered.

Interestingly, all this follows the A350-2000’s initial concerns, which involved cancelling the A380. At the time a stretch was first touted, the A380 was still in production, and Airbus was trying to push for sales. This would fail, however.

Airbus argued that a prospective enhancement of the A350 further into the A350-2000 would cancel out the A380 and essentially kill this aircraft. Essentially, Airbus would be cannibalising its aircraft.

Since then, however, the A380 has seen production cease, but there has also been much change across the industry, and Airbus has moved in a different direction with the programme.

Competition From The 777X?

While the Airbus A350 has seemingly been around forever, its primary competitor is still an emerging aircraft, despite being announced in 2013.

This is in the form of the upcoming Boeing 777X. While the A350 has thrived and has been flying with airlines for some time, the 777X remains uncertified over a decade after being first introduced.

The A350 and 777X, however, are pitted as competitors. The argument has been that an A350 Stretch would, for most companies, fend off the emerging aircraft, but Airbus believes they have the market on lock for the most part.

If Airbus believed through a feasibility study there would’ve been enough demand to market the jet, they would’ve proceeded with it. However, Airbus didn’t, and arguably, maybe economic conditions didn’t help this, but the A350 still faired quite well.

Not On The Airbus Radar

In 2019, when speaking with Australian Business Traveller, the Airbus CEO stated that a space for a high-capacity plane such as the A350 Stretch or A350-2000 didn’t exist.

Seemingly, the A350-2000 has been a quiet forgotten possibility since then. As new technologies emerge, an enhanced A350 could well be revisited in the form of a new engine option or a radically different clean sheet design.

However, several exciting A350 projects will still come across in the next decade, and they will be the centre of attention for Airbus moving forward.