China Airlines’ first A350 XWB ready to start ground and flight tests

The first A350 XWB for China Airlines (CAL) has rolled out from cabin furnishing & engine installation at the Airbus Toulouse Final Assembly Line. The aircraft is now ready to proceed to further ground and flight testing. This first A350-900 for CAL is scheduled for delivery in Q3 2016.

China Airlines has 14 A350-900 on order. The aircraft is expected to be deployed on the carrier’s long-haul routes to Europe and on selected regional routes. The A350-900 will join China Airlines’ other Airbus fleet including A330s and A340s on its regional and long haul services.

The A350 XWB is the world’s latest generation airliner and the newest member of Airbus’ modern, comfortable & efficient widebody product family. It features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fiber fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. Together, these latest technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency, with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions, and significantly lower maintenance costs.

To date, Airbus has recorded a total of 810 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 43 customers worldwide, already making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever.