News
A350-1000 performs maiden flight
November 25th 2016
Airbus’ A350-1000, the largest variant of the A350 XWB family, configured with a 366 seat three class layout, performed its maiden flight on Thursday. Read More » The event was attended by Singapore Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Vistara, AirAsia X, AerCap, Etihad Airways, China Airlines, Japan Airlines, Emirates Airline, All Nippon Airways, THAI, Qatar Airways and Qantas Airways. ANA, Qantas, Emirates, Vistara, AirAsia X and Tianjin Airlines have not officially ordered the A350, but Tianjin has said the A350 is part of its fleeting plans.
The flight test aircraft, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines (97klb), took off from Toulouse’s Blagnac Airport at 10:42am local time for a four-hour flight over southern France. Airbus has three -1000 test aircraft. It used five for the -900. The two variants have 95% airframe parts commonality, Airbus VP, Francois Caudron, told Orient Aviation in Toulouse.
Qatar Airways, the launch operator for the A350-1000, is expected to receive its first of the type in the third or fourth quarter of next year. Airbus has received 195 orders from 11 customers for the -1000, compared with 599 for the -900 and a remaining 16 for the -800. The -800 orders are likely to be cancelled or converted into A330 or A350-900 commitments.
Asia-Pacific A350XWB 1000 customers are Asiana Airlines (10), Cathay Pacific Airways (26), Etihad Airways (22) Japan Airlines (13) and Qatar Airways (37).
Speaking to Orient Aviation on the side lines of the first flight activities in Toulouse, Airbus CEO, Fabrice Bregier, said the A350 cabin interiors supply chain issues have eased and the manufacturer remains committed to delivering 50 A350s this year. Until now it has delivered 34.
