The Airbus A350 has begun a globe-spanning world tour covering 14 cities as the next-gen jet edges towards its debut with Qatar Airways towards the end of this year.
But this isn't just any old roadshow. The three-week journey encompasses a series of 'route proving tests' intended to show that the A350 is ready to take its place in the real world with auto-landing trials, high airfield performance, and airport turnaround and handling tests.
The route is divided into four legs and some of the flights will have passengers on board.
After taking off from Airbus HQ in Toulouse, France the A350's first run will take it to Canada via the north-pole and Frankfurt.
Then it's on to Hong Kong and Singapore.
The longest leg will take the A350 from Toulouse to Johannesburg, Sydney (on August 5), Auckland, Santiago and Sao Paulo.
Read: Airbus A350 coming to Sydney on August 5
The fourth and final trip sees the A350 head to Doha, then onto Perth – a route which Qatar CEO has already earmarked for a commercial A350 service in early 2015 – and back to Doha, Moscow and Helsinki before turning home.
The tests will be flown by one of two special test aircraft fitted with a cabin of 42 business class and 223 economy class seats.
For a peek inside the A350, check out our walkthrough of the first passenger-ready A350 and our first-hand report from on board the A350's flight test earlier this year.
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Feb 2014
Total posts 144
I wish the A350 world tour was as generous as the 787 world tour. Only stopping in Perth and Sydney, what about Melbourne and Brisbane?
19 Feb 2011
Total posts 18
Sadly looks like they're only doing these flights as required for proving, rather than for showing it off. Pity, the 787 world tour was fantastic!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Sep 2012
Total posts 132
Jo'Burg to Sydney in one hop.... Proving to AJ that the A350 might be the ideal replacement for the aging 747's? That would make QFi and all Airbus fleet if the 787 is not brought on board? Common fleet mix? Easier for pilots to transition from one frame type to another? Do we know what the ETOPS on launch will be? Can it do that route on a commercial basis?
Questions, questions, questions.....!
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
14 Jan 2014
Total posts 340
According to Wiki:
"Airbus is aiming to certify the A350 with 350-minute ETOPS capability on entry into service,and reach 420 min ETOPS capability later."
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jul 2014
Total posts 25
After all...Melbourne is the worlds most liveable city! Melbourne and Brisbane r just as good..,c'mon A350!!!
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