Lufthansa’s first Airbus A350-1000 completed its maiden test flight in Toulouse on 5 October, moving the carrier closer to delivery of the new long-haul aircraft. The jet, MSN799, flew for about three hours and 35 minutes before returning to Airbus’s Toulouse facilities. It will enter Lufthansa service as D-AIFA and carry the name Deutschland, along with the airline’s centenary special livery.
The aircraft is the first of 15 A350-1000s Lufthansa has ordered for its long-haul fleet renewal programme. Delivery is expected in the coming weeks, with November emerging as the likely handover window, followed by further test and acceptance flights before commercial entry into service.
The A350-1000 will become a new long-haul type for Lufthansa, adding a larger and more efficient widebody variant to the fleet. The aircraft’s special paint scheme features a large white crane and the anniversary markings linked to Lufthansa’s 100-year branding, underlining its role in the carrier’s fleet modernisation and premium intercontinental strategy.