Delta's first Airbus A350 rolls out of the paint shop
Delta Air Lines will be the first U.S. carrier to fly Airbus’ new A350 widebody jet. Now, aviation enthusiasts are now getting their first look at what the aircraft looks like in the carrier’s colors.
That comes after Delta’s first A350 rolled out of the paint shop at Airbus’ assembly line in Toulouse, France, on Tuesday.
The A350, which Delta says will become its “flagship international aircraft,” is expected to begin flying for the airline later this year. Delta says the A350 will be deployed on its international routes across the Pacific, though carriers typically first "break in" new plane types on shorter domestic routes to help familiarize flight and ground crews with the aircraft.
Wherever the A350 begins flying for Delta, the airline will configure the jet with 306 seats. That includes 32 “Delta One” business-class “suites” and 48 “Delta Premium Select Seats” – the carrier’s new international-style premium economy seating. There will be 226 seats in the economy cabin.
Delta gives first look of premium economy cabin, set for 2017 debut
IN PICTURES: Behind the scenes at Delta Air Lines (story continues below)
Now that Delta’s first A350 is out of the paint shop, it will undergo additional flight testing in France before eventually being handed over to Delta.
Delta says the new A350s will replace its older Boeing 747-400 aircraft, which are slated to be retired at the end of the year.
Delta has 25 Airbus A350s on order with Airbus. Beyond the A350, Delta also has another large widebody in with the European jetmaker; the first of 25 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft are expected to begin arriving to the carrier in 2019 as part of a broader international widebody fleet renewal at the Atlanta-based airline.
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IN PICTURES: 30 (more) cool aviation photos
IN PICTURES: (Even more) 30 cool aviation photos
