China Airlines Airbus A350-900 XWB is ready for testing

The first A350 XWB for China Airlines 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 testing. The initial test flight will take place in early September. Actual delivery should take place in the third quarter.

 

China Airlines is the first airline in Taiwan to adopt the Airbus A350 and has 14 aircraft on order. The first A350 to feature the China Airlines "Plum Blossom" on its vertical stabilizer was assembled and painted at the Airbus plant in Toulouse. Cabin furnishings and engine installation have also been completed during final assembly so it will roll out of the plant this week. Once it completes a series of ground and flight testing, the A350 will be ready for delivery. Airbus expects to progressively deliver four new A350 aircraft to China Airlines in the third and fourth quarters of this year.

 

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% reduction in fuel burn and emissions, and significantly lower maintenance costs.

 

The new China Airlines A350 cabin inherits the NexGen style based around creativity, youth and fashion elements. Total capacity is 306 seats in three classes with 32 in "Premium Business Class", 31 in "Premium Economy Class" and 243 in "Economy Class." Once delivered it will first be flown regional routes such as Hong Kong. In the future, it will become the mainstay on European routes such as Amsterdam, Vienna and Rome where it will provide travelers with unique and comfortable high-altitude journey. (2016/08/26)