Cathay Pacific has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350 XWB, the first of 48 the Hong Kong carrier has on order.

The first A350, a -900, will enter service on 1 June on flights to Manila, and will operate regionally before being moved to long-route routes such as Gatwick Airport and Dusseldorf Airport in the third quarter of 2016. Cathay Pacific has 48 A350s on order, of which 22 are -900s and 26 are -1000s.

Cathay Pacific chief operating officer, Rupert Hogg says: “This superbly efficient aircraft will help us further expand our global network and strengthen Hong Kong’s reputation as an international aviation hub, helping to oil the wheels of commerce and trade in our home city.”

The A350 XWB has the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fibre fuselage and wings, and fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines, which reduce fuel burn and emissions by 25 per cent.