Assembly of the main airframe sections of the first A350 XWB for China Airlines is advancing at Airbus’ Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France.

This involves the assembly of the wing-fuselage junction, the installation of the tailplane and also the tailcone. The aircraft will then be moved to the next assembly station for structural completion, ground testing of mechanical, electrical and avionics systems, and then the start of cabin installation. First delivery of Airbus’ latest generation widebody airliner to China Airlines is scheduled in Q3 2016.

China Airlines has 14 A350-900 twin engine widebodies on order. The aircraft will be deployed on the carrier’s long-haul routes to Europe, Australia and the United States as well as on selected regional routes. China Airlines currently operates 24 A330s and six A340s on regional and long haul services.

The A350 XWB is the world’s latest generation airliner and the newest member of Airbus’ modern, comfortable & efficient widebody product family. The aircraft features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fibre 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 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions, and significantly lower maintenance costs. For passengers, it brings new levels of in-flight comfort, with an extra-wide cabin offering more personal space in all classes, including 18 inch wide seats as standard in economy class. To date, Airbus has recorded a total of 777 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 41 customers worldwide, already making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever.

Press release and picture Airbus