The Airbus A350 XWB is due to take off on its maiden flight this morning.
The newest aircraft from Airbus, seen as a direct competitor to Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, will take off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport at around 10am local time.
The A350 is the mid-size long range product line comprising three versions and seating between 270 and 350 passengers in typical three-class layouts.
Airbus said the new family will bring a "step change in efficiency compared with existing aircraft in this size category".
The A350 will use 25% less fuel and provide an equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions.
It is scheduled for entry-into-service in second half of 2014 and has already won 613 firm orders from 33 customers worldwide.
