Qatar Airways today became the first airline to take delivery of Airbus' new A350-XWB aircraft, designed to keep up with Boeing's Dreamliner series in the lucrative long-haul mrket.
The ceremonial handover took place today at Airbus' headquarters in Toulouse, France.
The midsize jet will have 283 seats, including 36 in business class, and appears to be a popular draw - Qatar has ordered 80, and Airbus announced today that Air China has placed a $6 billion order for the A350s.
The 'XWB' stands for extra wide body.
The inaugural flight for the A350 on Qatar will be on Jan. 15 on the airline's Frankfurt-Doha route.
"Qatar Airways looks forward to inaugurating our first A350 on the Doha-Frankfurt route, and to very soon introducing this next-generation aircraft on many other cities offered on the airline's extensive network," Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said in a statement.
The A350 is the latest innovation in fuel-saving design. Made with 53 percent carbon-fiber, Airbus says it will burn 25 percent less fuel than similar size planes.
The aircraft wowed aviation enthusiasts at the Farnborough Air Show in August.
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