Airbus has rolled out the first completed A350-1000 at its Toulouse manufacturing facility.
The aircraft, which has production number MSN059 and temporary registration F-WMIL, emerged from the paint shop on Friday, July 29, minus a pair of powerplants on each wing.
Airbus has also released a video on YouTube of the aircraft being painted:
Airbus said first flight of the A350-1000 test program, which is expected to comprise three aircraft, is forecast to take place in the final three months of calendar 2016.
While no Australian operator has ordered the A350-1000, airlines that serve this part of the world such as Qatar Airways (37 orders), United (35), Cathay Pacific (26 orders) and Etihad (22) have a significant number of the type due for delivery in the years ahead.
Launch customer Qatar is expected to take delivery of its first A350-1000 in mid-2017. Currently, the oneworld alliance member serves Adelaide with the A350-900, Australia’s only A350 flight.
British Airways, Japan Airlines, LATAM and Asiana – all of which also fly to Australia – are also A350-1000 customers. All up, the A350-1000 has garnered 181 orders from 10 customers.
Airbus said the A350-1000 can be configured to seat 366 passengers in a “typical” three-class layout and has a range of 7,900 nautical miles.
In a higher density configuration, the A350-1000 will be capable of carrying 440 passengers.
