Airbus’ A330neo aircraft soaring above the cloud. Credit: courtesy of ©Airbus 2017/S. Ramadier.

Airbus has completed the maiden flight of its first A330neo aircraft from Toulouse–Blagnac Airport in France.

Designated MSN1795, the aircraft is the first of three A330neo family development aircraft and belongs to the A330-900 variant.

Rolls-Royce’s Trent 7000 turbofan engines were incorporated to power the flight, which lasted for 4h and 13min.

The flight was controlled by experimental test pilots Thierry Bourges and Thomas Wilhelm, test-flight engineer Alain Pourchet and other staff members.

“Today’s first flight of the A330neo marks yet another milestone along the Airbus journey of continuous innovation.”

Airbus COO and Commercial Aircraft president Fabrice Brégier said: “Today’s first flight of the A330neo marks yet another milestone along the Airbus journey of continuous innovation.”

The company is planning to place the first A330neo aircraft into commercial service by next year.

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Airbus will use two A330-900 and one A330-800 aircraft to complete the ongoing the flight-test campaigns for its A330neo aircraft family programme.

As part of the campaigns, the first production A330-900 aircraft will also be used to validate the full Airspace cabin.

In 2014, Airbus launched the A330neo aircraft programme as an upgraded version of its A330 wide-body product line.

Both the A330-800 and A330-900 versions of the A330neo aircraft family will be equipped with new Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, nacelle, titanium pylon, new wings and an Airspace developed by Airbus Cabin.

The A330neo family will also incorporate wingspan extensions totalling 64m and specially developed curved wing-tip Sharklets. They will be designed to accommodate up to ten more passengers than their respective predecessors.

When completed, the aircraft family is expected to provide double-digit fuel burn improvements and one of the quietest operation capabilities.