(MENAFN) European planemaker Airbus has opened a new plant to produce A350 jetliner, as it seeks to meet fierce competition from US rival Boeing, Reuters reported.
The plant was named by French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault after "Father of Airbus" Roger Beteille, a pioneer of twin-engined long haul passenger jets.
The A350 is Europe's first contribution to a new generation of jets designed to cut airline fuel bills by using mainly lightweight carbon-composite materials instead of the heavier aluminium.
Airbus expects to fly the first A350 in the summer of 2013 and enter service in the second half of 2014, a year later than originally scheduled. Three different models of the aircraft will seat between 270 and 350 people.
Full production is expected to start ahead of next year's maiden flight, rising to 10 planes a month by late 2018.
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