First Air Mauritius Airbus A350 XWB taking shape in France

The wing-fuselage junction, installation of the tailplane and the tailcone have been completed. The aircraft is in the next assembly station for structural completion such as the installation of winglets, and ground testing of mechanical, electrical and avionics systems. The next steps will include cabin completion, engine installation, painting and flight tests. 
Delivery is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year. 
Air Mauritius will acquire a total of six A350-900 twin-engine wide-bodies, four of which will be directly purchased from Airbus and two on lease from AerCap.
At entry into service, the A350 XWB will be deployed on the carrier's long-haul routes, mainly Mauritius-Paris. 
Air Mauritius currently operates a fleet of 13 aircraft, of which 10 are Airbus jets: six A340-300s, two A330-200s and two A319s on regional and long-haul services.
Airbus says the A350 XWB features the latest aerodynamic design, a carbon-fibre fuselage and wings, and new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. It claims that these technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency in terms of fuel burn and emissions, and significantly lower maintenance costs. 
To date, Airbus has recorded a total of 831 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 44 customers worldwide, which it says makes it one of the most successful wide-body aircraft ever.