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Airbus A350-1000 Specifications

SpecificationAirbus A350-1000
ManufacturerAirbus
Aircraft typeWide-body twin-engine airliner
First flight24 November 2016
Entry into serviceFebruary 2018
ICAO codeA35K
Typical seating350–410 passengers
Maximum seating480 passengers
Length73.79 m (242 ft 1 in)
Wingspan64.75 m (212 ft 5 in)
Height17.08 m (56 ft 0 in)
RangeUp to 16,100 km (8,700 nautical miles)
Cruise speedMach 0.85
Engines2 × Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97
Flight crew2 pilots

The A350-1000 is Airbus’ largest twin-engine passenger aircraft and offers outstanding economics on high-demand long-haul routes.

Development

The A350-1000 was launched as the largest member of the A350 XWB family to meet airline demand for a replacement for ageing Boeing 777-300ERs, Boeing 747-400s, and Airbus A340-600s.

Compared with the A350-900, the A350-1000 features:

  • A fuselage nearly 7 metres longer
  • More powerful Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines
  • A redesigned trailing edge on the wing
  • Six-wheel main landing gear
  • Higher maximum take-off weight
  • Greater passenger capacity

The aircraft completed its maiden flight on 24 November 2016 and entered commercial service with Qatar Airways in February 2018.

Design Features

The A350-1000 builds upon the advanced technology introduced by the A350-900 while adding greater capacity and performance.

Key features include:

  • Carbon-fibre composite fuselage and wings
  • Over 70% advanced lightweight materials
  • Airbus fly-by-wire flight controls
  • Advanced aerodynamic wing with curved Sharklets
  • Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines
  • Six-wheel main landing gear
  • Digital glass cockpit
  • High cockpit commonality with the A350-900

Airbus states the A350 family delivers around 25% lower fuel burn and CO₂ emissions compared with previous-generation aircraft of similar size.

Airspace Cabin

The Airbus A350-1000 features Airbus’ Airspace cabin, offering one of the most comfortable passenger experiences available.

Features include:

  • Extra-wide cabin
  • Larger panoramic windows
  • Lower cabin altitude
  • Higher humidity
  • Quiet interior
  • LED mood lighting
  • Spacious overhead baggage bins
  • Advanced air filtration

Typical seating layouts include:

  • Business Class: 1-2-1
  • Premium Economy: 2-4-2
  • Economy Class: 3-3-3

The A350’s 5.61-metre-wide cabin allows airlines to offer wider seats and more personal space than many competing aircraft.

Engines

The Airbus A350-1000 is powered exclusively by:

  • 2 × Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 turbofan engines

Producing up to 97,000 pounds of thrust, these are the most powerful engines ever developed for the Airbus A350 family. They provide exceptional efficiency while enabling the aircraft to carry more passengers over longer distances.

Performance

The A350-1000 is designed for high-capacity long-haul operations.

Its capabilities include:

  • Ultra-long-haul flights
  • High-density international routes
  • ETOPS operations
  • Excellent hot-and-high airport performance
  • Outstanding dispatch reliability

With a range of approximately 16,100 km (8,700 nautical miles), the aircraft can connect major cities across every continent nonstop. Airbus is also developing an A350-1000ULR variant for even longer missions, including Qantas’ Project Sunrise flights between Australia and Europe or North America.

Cargo Capability

The A350-1000 combines high passenger capacity with substantial cargo capability.

It can accommodate:

  • Up to 44 LD3 cargo containers
  • Standard cargo pallets
  • Additional bulk freight

Its excellent belly cargo capacity provides airlines with valuable additional revenue on long-haul services.

Major Operators

The Airbus A350-1000 is operated by leading airlines around the world.

Major operators include:

  • Qatar Airways
  • British Airways
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Virgin Atlantic
  • Japan Airlines
  • Etihad Airways
  • Air France
  • Iberia
  • Japan Airlines
  • STARLUX Airlines

Additional airlines continue to introduce the type as part of long-haul fleet renewal programmes.

Why Airlines Choose the A350-1000

The A350-1000 has become one of the world’s premier long-haul aircraft because it offers:

  • Excellent fuel efficiency
  • Very long range
  • High passenger capacity
  • Modern Airspace cabin
  • Quiet operation
  • Strong cargo capability
  • Low maintenance costs
  • Excellent reliability
  • Commonality with the A350-900

These strengths allow airlines to replace older four-engine aircraft while reducing operating costs and improving passenger comfort.

Legacy

The Airbus A350-1000 represents the pinnacle of Airbus’ twin-engine passenger aircraft development. By combining advanced composite construction, powerful new-generation engines, and one of the most comfortable cabins in commercial aviation, Airbus created a highly efficient successor to many of the world’s largest long-haul aircraft.

With airlines increasingly retiring the Boeing 747-400, Airbus A340-600, and older Boeing 777 models, the A350-1000 is expected to remain a cornerstone of global long-haul fleets for decades. Future variants such as the A350-1000ULR will further expand its capabilities, enabling some of the world’s longest nonstop commercial flights.

Airbus A350-1000 Quick Facts

  • ✈️ ICAO code: A35K
  • 📅 First flight: 24 November 2016
  • 🛫 Entered service: February 2018
  • 🌍 Maximum range: 16,100 km (8,700 nm)
  • 👥 Typical capacity: 350–410 passengers
  • 🪑 Maximum capacity: 480 passengers
  • ⚙️ Powered by 2 × Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines
  • 🧱 Built using over 70% advanced materials, including extensive carbon-fibre composites
  • 💺 Features Airbus’ award-winning Airspace cabin
  • 🏆 The largest passenger aircraft in the Airbus A350 family and Airbus’ flagship twin-engine airliner.