Some may say the golden age of flying is over, but Travel + Leisure disagrees. They say now is the best time to fly, thanks to the next-generation jets that are debuting, which seek to provide a comfortable journey to all passengers. Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner has gotten a lot of attention because of the new technologies the plane features, and because both American and United airlines have the planes in their fleet. However, passengers in North America are going to see the Airbus A350 a lot more frequently, which is a good thing. Hong Kong Airlines began flying an A350 from Hong Kong to Los Angeles on Dec. 18, and service to San Francisco will begin in March. The airline is just the latest to put the Airbus’s newest long-haul plane on its U.S. routes. Delta also began flying the A350 from Detroit to Asia back in October, and more routes are scheduled to begin this year. Why are so many airlines picking up this plane? Like the Dreamliner, the A350 incorporates a range of technological touchstones that improve both aircraft operation and the passenger experience aboard the long-haul routes. The planes use metal that is 25 percent lighter than the metal used in conventional planes, so it is more fuel efficient, stronger, and more durable. The cabin can be pressurized to the equivalent of 6,000 feet in altitude, compared with the 8,000-foot mark on most jets, which can alleviate symptoms like light-headedness and fatigue. The plane has LED ambient lighting with up to 16.7 million settings and sequencing that can be customized over the course of a flight, and large windows to let in more natural light. It also has air filters which circulate the air within two to three minutes, keeping those gross passenger germs away from you. The plane itself is also a full five inches wider than the 787 so economy seats have more room and the overhead bins are bigger. The seats are also different and more comfortable.
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