Have You Met the New Finnair A350 Yet? Here’s a Peek of How it Goes as It Grows

Finnair A350_2

Finnair is justifiably excited over the progress of its A350 in Toulouse. It will be the first A350 aircraft to fly for a European carrier, and it’s shaping up to be a beauty.

The test flight A350 visited Helsinki last August and received a very warm welcome from the future owners, the airport team at Helsinki, spotters and fans of aviation.

Still, there’s nothing quite like having one of your very own. There is now a complete tour available on the airline’s site of the future jewel of the Finnair fleet which covers the aircraft’s personalised features.

I was particularly amused by a picture shown of the tail fin rolling its way into the assembly hangar.

Finnair's first A350 aircraft are currently being built in Toulouse/photo by master films/F.LANCELOT/Airbus/Finnair
Finnair’s first A350 aircraft are currently being built in Toulouse/photo by master films/F.LANCELOT/Airbus/Finnair

Details of the new aircraft’s interiors were revealed last year, and reflect a clean Nordic design approach which capitalises on the ample light which the A350’s larger windows and cavernous cabin afford. The Business class seat will feature Zodiac Cirrus II with full-flat bed seats and every passenger will get direct aisle access–a must for today’s Business class experience.

Finnair A350 Business Class Cabin rendering/Finnair
Finnair A350 Business Class Cabin rendering/Finnair

The economy section will be divided between Economy Comfort (with four extra inches of legroom) and Economy Class seating, both in a 3-3-3 configuration, offering 11-inch IFE touch screens. (seat map below.)

The aircraft is expected to join the Finnair fleet this winter 2015/2016, and you can follow its progress on twitter the dedicated hashtag: #A350Finnair

Finnair's first A350 aircraft are currently being built in Toulouse, France/photo by master films/F.Lancelot/Airbus/Finnair
Finnair’s first A350 aircraft are currently being built in Toulouse, France/photo by master films/F.Lancelot/Airbus/Finnair
Finnair's first A350 aircraft are currently being built in Toulouse, France/Finnair
Finnair’s first A350 aircraft are currently being built in Toulouse, France/Finnair

Having enjoyed the tour of the A350XWB during its reveal last year in Hamburg, and the first flight of Qatar’s A350 in Toulouse this past December, I can say that this is a unique flying experience and one which airlines are right to be excited over. The aircraft’s design is well thought-out with plenty of consideration for passenger comfort.

It is also an aircraft which goes the distance in serving the long-haul needs of airlines.

And it has an impressive set of wings.

Bon chance, Finnair A350! Ei voi odottaa Nähdä sinua lentää!

Finnair A350 Seat Map/Finnair
Finnair A350 Seat Map/Finnair

Marisa Garcia

After working for sixteen years in aviation, specializing in aircraft interiors design and aviation safety equipment, and getting hands-on with aircraft cabins in hangars around the world, Marisa Garcia turned her expertise into industry insight. She has been reporting on aviation matters since 2014. Every day, she's putting words to work.

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4 Comments

  1. […] The first aircraft outfitted with the service will be its pride and joy, the new A350XWB, which will come into service in the autumn of 2015 and will be the first A350 flown by a European airline. […]

  2. […] But what we’re all really excited about is Finnair’s decision to be the first European carrier to fly the A350 XWB aircraft. […]

  3. […] new A350XWB, MSN18, has rolled out of the hangar in Toulouse, looking pretty […]

  4. […] Finnair says it wants to offer customers “a unique Nordic experience” and has designed the A350 XWB to deliver on that vision. […]

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