OREANDA-NEWS. On the evening of Friday, July 25, an Airbus A350 XWB (extra wide body) will land at Frankfurt Airport for the first time. This Airbus test aircraft, which has been visiting various airports around the world to probe handling processes for the new jet, is expected to arrive around 19:00 from Iqualit (YFB) on Baffin Island in the Nunavut territory of Canada's eastern Arctic. The A350 XWB will depart the following day (July 26) at about 14:00 to the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France.

Peter Schmitz, Fraport AG's executive board member for operations (COO) explained the importance of the A350 XWB test visit: "Frankfurt Airport has always prepared itself early for next-generation planes by working closely and constructively with the aircraft manufacturers and airlines." Already in the 1970s when FRA's Terminal 1 was first being constructed, Frankfurt further expanded the terminal to serve as an ideal hub for the Boeing 747 jumbo. With the introduction of the A380 superjumbo, Fraport AG was actively involved in the first airport ground-handling tests in 2005 and the subsequent route-proving flights for the world's largest passenger airliner - all conducted via Frankfurt Airport.

"Size is not what makes the A350 so special - rather, it is the increased efficiency. In particular, we will benefit from the latest technology that is being implemented with this aircraft type. The significant reduction in noise emissions, which the A350 brings, will help contribute to quieter flying at Frankfurt," stressed Schmitz, who applauded Lufthansa's decision to purchase 25 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft.

Compared to the current generation of twin-engine long-haul wide-body jets, the A350 XWB requires up to 25 percent less fuel and is substantially quieter. More information about the Airbus A350 is available via the Internet.

Aviation fans interested in witnessing the first landing of the A350 at Frankfurt can access the Visitors' Terrace at Terminal 2, which will stay open longer on Friday evening. For more details about the FRA Visitors' Terrace, visit Frankfurt Airport's Web site on the Internet.