Passengers had the chance to experience what it’s like to fly onboard the new Airbus A350 aircraft for the first time this week, during two trial flights in Europe.
The ‘Early Long Flight’ test involved two passenger flights operated by Air France and Lufthansa cabin crew on 2 and 3 June respectively.
During the flights, 500 passengers, mainly comprising Airbus employees, were asked to test the aircraft’s cabin systems, including air conditioning, lighting, acoustics, in-flight entertainment, galleys, electrics and toilets.
Both A350 flights took off from and landed in Toulouse; the first a daytime flight lasting seven hours, and the second an overnight flight lasting 12 hours.
“Early Long Flights are an important achievement towards the A350’s entry into service. Though not part of the technical certification programme, these flights allow Airbus to assess the cabin environment and systems in flight ahead of final certification ensuring that airlines will benefit from a fully mature aircraft from day one of commercial operations,” Airbus said in a statement.
The A350 is still undergoing tests but Airbus says the model is on track to enter service in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Qatar Airways, which has ordered 80 A350s, is the aircraft’s launch customer, while other major operators include Emirates (70 orders), Singapore Airlines (70), Etihad Airways (62), Cathay Pacific (46), United Airlines (35), JAL (31) and Asiana Airlines (30).
Source: Travel Daily