Qatar Airways introduced the Airbus A350 into scheduled passenger service in January 2015.
The airline operated the first commercial A350 flight on January 15, 2015, from Doha to Frankfurt. Qatar Airways was the launch customer for the A350-900 and received the aircraft after Airbus completed its certification and delivery process. The route provided a high-profile introduction to Airbus’s newest long-haul wide-body family.
The A350 uses a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer fuselage and wings, helping reduce weight compared with conventional aluminum designs. It was developed to compete primarily with the Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 families. The aircraft also includes a two-aisle cabin and advanced Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.
The A350 program includes the A350-900 and the larger A350-1000. Qatar Airways later became a major operator of both versions. Singapore Airlines was the launch customer for the A350-900ULR variant, but Qatar Airways operated the first standard A350 passenger service.