Airbus has shifted the delivery schedule of the A350-1000 into the second half of 2017, having previously indicated a mid-2017 timeframe.
Details of the amended schedule emerged during a recent briefing by the airframer in Hamburg.
It insists the schedule has changed only by “a matter of weeks”, and states that it is putting “appropriate resources” into position to secure the type’s overall timeline.
Airbus says the first flight of the A350-1000 is still due to take place in the fourth quarter of this year.
Three test aircraft, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, are undergoing final assembly in Toulouse, while the first customer aircraft is in pre-final assembly.
Customers have ordered a total of 181 A350-1000s, the larger member of the A350 family.
Airbus is still aiming to achieve deliveries of 50 A350-900s, at least, for this year, despite the difficulties in cabin interior supply which have centred on problems at Zodiac Aerospace.
It handed over nine A350s over the first five months of 2016, three to Singapore Airlines, two apiece to Finnair and TAM, and one each to Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
