The A350 XWB rolls out of Airbus's paint hangar. It is painted blue and carries VNA's yellow lotus logo. — Photo courtesy of VNA

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The first A350 XWB for Vietnam Airlines (VNA) has rolled out of Airbus's paint hangar in Toulouse, France, according to a VNA press release on March 9.

The aircraft is one of 10 A350 XWBs that have been ordered from the firm. Scheduled for delivery in mid-2015, the aircraft will help VNA become the first Asian airline to fly Airbus A350 XWB and Boeing 787, and the second operator in the world of the all-new, fuel-efficient wide-body aircraft.

VNA will use the A350 XWB on luxury flights, with the first flights flying between Ha Noi and Paris.

A350 XWB is the most modern plane of Airbus's wide-body aircraft. It has 305 seats in a three-class configuration, comprising 29 in business class, 45 in premium economy class and 231 in economy class. Airbus has 40 customers across the world, which have ordered the 780 A350 XWB aircraft by the end of this year.

As planned, VNA will have a wide-body fleet of 33 aircraft, in which there will be 19 Boeing 787s and 14 Airbus A350s, including four leased ones. The aircraft will be delivered during the 2015-19 period, and will be used for long journeys and intercontinental flights, helping the firm to exploit new destinations in Europe and North America.

The new aircraft are part of VNA's brand recognition programme, which also includes a new lotus logo, new staff uniform designs and new interior and exterior décor of various planes, as well as waiting, ticket and meeting rooms. — VNS