Airbus has built a new generation aircraft based on the success and technology of the A350 XWB.

Lower cost, more revenue seat, more efficiency, Airbus made the best use of the latest technology available to optimise an already robust design in particular with the aerodynamic performance which is the key to contribute to the performance of the aircraft.

Airbus is now entering in the flight tests campaign and have deployed Airline One concept that was already deployed on the A350 to approach each flight from an airline customer perspective. The ultimate goal working like that is to find quality and maturity item before the entry to service of the aircraft.

A second flight test aircraft is getting ready and will fly next month. A third flight test aircraft that will start next month will fly next year.

The first production aircraft are already ongoing the assembly and Airbus is targetting type certificate and the first delivery at the middle of 2018.

Thierry Bourgès was the captain of this first flight.

Nadia Didelot for AeroMorning