Europe’s largest twin-engined passenger jet has taken to the skies for the first time.<br /><br /> The Airbus A350-1000 is seeking to hog the limelight from Boeing’s popular 777.<br /><br /> It is a larger cousin to the new-generation A350-900, which entered service last year.<br /><br /> Both are built from similar materials to Boeing’s mid-sized 787 Dreamliner.<br /><br /> The stats<br /><br /> The lightweight, carbon-fibre A350-1000 is seven metres longer than the A350s already in service.<br /><br /> It has 366 seats and can carry 40 more people.<br /><br /> Debut flight<br /><br /> The aircraft began its three-hour debut flight from Toulouse in France just after 0940 GMT.<br /><br /> It was watched by some of the airline bosses who have invested in the 356 million US dollar jet.<br /><br /> The aircraft involved is one of three test planes facing a winter of intensive flight testing before the A350-1000 enters service in the second half of 2017.<br /><br /> The business<br /><br /> The aircraft is designed to break Boeing’s virtual monopoly in the lucrative “mini-jumbo” segment.<br /><br /> This typically involves large, twin-engined jets carrying 350 people.<br /><br /> What they are saying<br /><br /> Fabrice Bregier, the chief executive of Airbus, says he is confident the A350-1000 will be delivered on time next year.<br /><br /> In tweets<br /><br /> #DidYouKnow? The #A350FF will be a key milestone for the #A350-1000 programme development, kicking off the flight test campaign. pic.twitter.com/pJSLXvARN4— Airbus (@Airbus) November 24, 2016<br /><br /> On top of the 40 more seats, the key attributes of the #A350-1000, the largest twin engines aircraft ever build by Airbus. #A350FF pic.twitter.com/nlZNsDfgNJ— Airbus (Airbus) November 24, 2016<br /><br /> #INFOGRAPHIC: The latest member of the #A350 XWB Family takes to the skies today kicking off the flight-test programme. #A350FF pic.twitter.com/uvB5y3L79u— Airbus (@Airbus) November 24, 2016<br /><br /> The final pieces of the puzzle – engines & landing gears #A350-1000. #A350FF scheduled tomorrow, 10.30 local time (weather permitting) pic.twitter.com/xjDPrQobyk— Airbus (@Airbus) November 23, 2016<br /><br /> She’s in the skies! Congratulations Airbus – we just witnessed the first ever take off of the #A350-1000 here in Toulouse. #A350FF ✈️ pic.twitter.com/dFesNjPZRH— Alex Macheras (AlexInAir) November 24, 2016<br />
