Airbus has unveiled a special livery for its latest and fourth Airbus A350 XWB (Extra Wide Body) celebrating its largest customer for the type Qatar Airways, which will also be the first to take delivery. The new color scheme was unveiled on Tuesday February 4th in Toulouse.
Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al Baker, Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Brégier and Didier Evrard, Executive Vice President Head of A350 XWB program took part in the ceremony revealing the special customer livery. (L to R in picture left)
The Doha based airline is the biggest customer for the A350XWB with 80 aircraft on order. Airbus and Qatar Airways are working closely together to ensure a successful entry-into-service of this all-new aircraft from day one.
The aircraft will soon join the A350 XWB flight test fleet for external noise and lightning tests, avionics development & certification and training for first customer pilots & maintenance teams.
“I am pleased with what I have seen during my visit. It gives me every confidence that the program is well on track for our first delivery in 2014. At Qatar Airways, we are eager to open a new chapter of efficient and comfortable air travel and the A350 XWB will do this for us. The aircraft will give us that extra edge in economics and comfort to further boost our route expansion.” commented Akbar Al Baker.
Early this year MSN 3 completed cold weather tests. The trials were conducted at Iqaluit, Canada where the temperature was as low as – 28C! The tests included APU and engine starts following cold soak, verification of system behavior, low-speed taxiing, rejected takeoffs, and performing a local flight.
The same aircraft – MSN 3 – will appear at next week’s Singapore Air Show in the tropical heat. It will conduct the types first ever air show flying display on both, the 11th and 12th of February.
