The Airbus A350 is one of the youngest widebodies in the world. The first of the type was delivered at the end of 2014 to Qatar Airways, which was also the launch customer of the kind. Here are the oldest Airbus A350s flying passengers.
The oldest A350 is not flying for Qatar Airways
According to data from Planespotters.net, the oldest Airbus A350-900 flying for a commercial airline is actually flying for low-cost carrier French Bee. French Bee only flies the Airbus A350-900 and made an achievement using the type by flying the longest domestic nonstop flight. The oldest A350 in the world is registered as F-HREU and came to the airline in 2017 when the carrier was called “French Blue.” F-HREU served as a testbed for Airbus first, before being delivered to the airline. The aircraft is the oldest commercial A350 in the world at just over six years of age.
Next up, just a few months younger at almost six years of age, is A7-ALA. This aircraft has flown for Qatar Airways in its whole flying lifespan. After this comes A7-ALB, A7-ALC, and A7-ALD– also all flying for Qatar Airways.
Two other airlines took delivery of Airbus A350s in 2015 as new jets. Vietnam Airlines has the next two oldest A350-900s. These are VN-A886 and VN-A887.
Following this is Finnair’s first Airbus A350, OH-LWA, which was delivered to the airline in October 2015.
After that comes Vietnam Airlines’ VN-A888, followed by Qatar Airways’ three planes A7-ALE, A7-ALF, and A7-ALG. Next up is Vietnam Airlines’ VN-A889. Rounding out the five-year-old A350s are Finnair’s OH-LWB and OH-LWC.
Number 16 goes to Singapore Airlines’ first Airbus A350, 9V-SMA, which is just over four years old.
What about the A350-1000?
Like the Airbus A350-900, the oldest Airbus A350-1000 was not the first of the type delivered. Air Caraïbes, the “sister airline” of French Bee, operates a just over three-year-old Airbus A350-1000 registered as F-HMIL.
Next up is Qatar Airways‘ first Airbus A350-1000, A7-ANA. This jet is just over two years old.
After that is Cathay Pacific, with B-LXA, also two years old, this was Cathay Pacific’s first Airbus A350-1000.
Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific are the only airlines operating A350-1000s that are two years old. Qatar Airways operates A7-ANB, followed by Cathay Pacific’s B-LXC and B-LXB. Chronologically next is A7-ANC and A7-AND. Cathay Pacific then has B-LXD and B-LXE. Qatar Airways then takes the 11th oldest Airbus A350-1000 at A7-ANE. Cathay Pacific has the 12th and 13th with B-LXF and B-LXG. Rounding out the two-year-old planes are Qatar Airways’ A7-ANF, followed by Cathay Pacific’s B-LXH.
Special mention: the A350-900ULR
An ultra-long-range variant of the Airbus A350-900 only flies for one airline: Singapore Airlines. The carrier traditionally flies these aircraft out to Los Angeles and Newark in a sparse configuration with 161 seats onboard. The oldest of these is 9V-SGA, which is two years old and was Singapore Airlines’ first Airbus A350-900ULR.
All of Singapore’s A350-900ULRs are two years old, with deliveries completed by the end of 2018.
What is the oldest A350 that you have flown on? Which airline’s Airbus A350 is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
