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| The Qatar Airways A350 XWB first flight. Photo: Airbus |
[Avionics Today 12-05-2014] Airbus and Qatar Airways have announced that the official delivery of the world’s first customer A350-900 aircraft will take place on Dec. 13, 2014 in Toulouse, France. Qatar Airways — the global launch customer for Airbus’ newest addition to its widebody jetliner type aircraft family — has 80 total A350 XWB family aircraft on order, including 43 A350-900s and 37 of the longer-fuselage A350-1000 versions.
The carrier plans to commence commercial service with the A350 XWB between its Hamad International Airport hub in Doha, Qatar and Frankfurt, Germany in January.
Airbus’ A350 XWB has an airframe comprised of 53 percent composites and new, Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines that promise to deliver a reduction in fuel burn and emissions, as well as lower maintenance costs.