Airbus delivers its first gen-next A350 XWB plane to Qatar Airways

Airbus delivered its first next-generation A350-900 plane to Qatar Airways that kick-starts its bid to erode rival Boeing's dominance in the lucrative long-haul market.


The Doha-based company, owned by the energy-rich Gulf state, has ordered 80 of the planes, making it not only the launch customer but also the largest single customer of the fuel-efficient A350 so far.

The plane, with Trent XWB Rolls-Royce engines, can carry 315 passengers over a distance of 14,500 kilometres (9,000 miles).



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