Airbus A350 News: One Of The Biggest Airplanes In The World Makes Its First Flight

On November 24, Thanksgiving day, the A350-1000, Airbus' newest plane took to the skies. It is currently Europe's largest twin-engine passenger jet, and one of the biggest airplanes in the world.

The aircraft took off from the Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, Toulouse, France at 10:42 a.m., according to USA Today. The Airbus A350 flew around Southern France for several hours and then safely landed back at the airport. (READ: The Top Five Shortest Flights In The World)

The Airbus A350, at 230 tons, took off to large fanfare and applause from factory workers, according to Reuters. Powered by a Rolls Royce-manufactured Trent XWB engine, the engine has been tested to put out a whopping 97,000 lbs of thrust. Skipping the traditional aluminum body, Airbus created the jets out of lightweight carbon-fiber composite materials, which allows for fuel efficiency and features travelers will love such as lower cabin humidity and larger windows. (READ: New Aircraft Technology: Self-Cleaning Toilets And Jetlag Prevention)

With a seating range of up to 440 people, the Airbus A350 is expected to reach ranges of up to 7,950 miles, connecting cities such as Boston and Shanghai on one full trip, or Los Angeles to Manchester. Taking advantage of this feature is Qatar Airways, to whom Airbus is expected to deliver the Airbus A350 in late 2017, following a whole year of testing. Qatar Airways was also the first airline to take deliveries of earlier models of the Airbus A350, part of Airbus' A350 program which was initially launched in 2006. (READ: What Is 2017's Most Excellent Airline?)

In a tight race with Boeing, who has dominated the long-haul jet market for decades, Airbus is aiming for the new A350 to outdo Boeing's 777-300. Fabrice Bregier, Airbus' CEO claims that the A350 is 25 percent more fuel efficient and 30 tons lighter than Boeing's latest 777. (READ: The Most Shocking Airline Secrets Revealed) Last year, the A350-900 entered service, a smaller version of the A350-1000 and competition to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. Before entering service in 2017, the new A350-1000 needs to face at least 1,600 hours of intensive flight testing.