TOULOUSE, France - Qatar Airways’ first A350 XWB in full airline livery has successfully completed its maiden flight over the Airbus construction facility in Toulouse, France.
The airline, which is the global launch customer for the Airbus A350, is scheduled to take delivery of its first A350-900 before the end of the year.
Following the successful inaugural flight, Qatar’s A350 XWB is now continuing its production phase, including cabin completion and further ground and flight tests, before final delivery.
Qatar Airways has 80 A350s on order, including 43 A350-900 and 37 of the larger A350-1000 models.
“We are delighted to see the new A350 taking to the skies in our livery,” said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker. “The A350 will be a very valuable addition to our fleet, and thanks to its extra width, we will be able to offer our passengers even greater comfort and continue to raise the benchmark for service in the sky.”
With a cross-section of 220 inches from armrest to armrest, the A350’s cabin provides the widest seats in its category, offering its passengers a unique experience of space and comfort.
The A350 XWB is Airbus’ all-new mid-size long range product line and the newest member of Airbus' leading widebody family, and offers a combination of enhanced passenger comfort and technological innovation.
Built hand-in-hand with its customers, the A350 XWB will set new standards in terms of passenger experience, operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 17 years of operation, to the point where today it is flying a modern fleet of 137 aircraft to 144 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.
About Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is proud to be Going Places Together with travellers across its more than 150 business and leisure destinations.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways has been awarded World’s Best Airline, World's Best Business Class; Best Business Class Airline Lounge and Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax.
Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance, oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 150 countries.
Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system offers passengers up to 3,000 entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, A350, A380, A319 and select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the award-winning airline’s on-board Wi-Fi and GSM service.
Qatar Airways proudly supports a range of exciting international and local initiatives dedicated to enriching the global community that it serves. Qatar Airways sponsors world-leading sports teams including FC Barcelona and Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia FC reflecting the values of sports as a means of bringing people together, something at the core of the airline’s own brand message – Going Places Together.
Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s third largest international cargo carrier, serves more than 50 exclusive freighter destinations worldwide via its Doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations globally