Finnair’s First A350-900 Makes Its Maiden Flight

The first Airbus A350-900 for Finnair has completed its first flight, taking off from and later returning to land at Toulouse Blagnac Airport on September 17.

This aircraft will now enter its final production phase, which includes further ground checks and pre-delivery flight tests.

Finnair’s first Airbus A350-900 made its maiden flight on September 17, 2015

Finnair is scheduled to take delivery of the Airbus A350-900 in the next few weeks.

Helsinki Vantaa Airport-based Finnair will become the first airline in Europe to operate the A350 XWB and the third operator in the world, after Qatar Airways and Vietnam Airlines.

Finnair has ordered 19 A350-900s in all. It will use them to replace Airbus A340-300s and for service growth on premium long-haul routes.

Following delivery of its first Airbus A350-900, Finnair was due to receive another 18 of the type

The first long-haul route on which Finnair will operate the A350-900 will be its route between Helsinki and Shanghai.

By the end of August 2015, Airbus had received firm orders for 782 A350 XWB widebodies from 40 customers.