UNDER THE cover of darkness Airbus has moved the first production A350-941 from its Toulouse paint shop back to the final assembly line where the aircraft’s Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines are to be attached to the wings. The aircraft, A7-ALA (c/n 006), will be delivered to launch customer Qatar Airways before the end of the year. This will be the first of 80 examples ordered by the carrier on June 18, 2007 and comprises: 20 -800s, 40 -900s and 20 -1000s. On December 3, 2012 the airline amended its commitments for the type, dropping the smaller -800 in favour of three more -900s and 17 additional -1000s.
“We have taken the time necessary to come to today’s decision in favour of the larger A350 XWB models which we believe are best suited to our business model,” Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said at the time. (Photo Airbus)