Launched on October 6, 2005, the A350 is Airbus' response to Boeing's efficient 787. Derived from the existing A330, the A350 family is comprised of two members: the A350-800 which competes with the B787-9 and carries up to 253 passengers in a three-class configuration for a trip length of up to 8,800nm/16,300km. The larger A350-900 accommodates as many as 300 passengers in a three-class layout and flies up to 7,500nm/13,900km and is intended to compete with the B777-200ER.

Designed to increase operating efficiency and decrease costs, the A350 features increased use of composite materials to reduce weight; larger nose area;  a new cabin and windshield; wing and winglet design; new engines; shortened tail plane (-900); redesigned landing gear and other upgraded systems. Airbus plans to use bleed-air versions of the bleedless engine technology (Rolls-Royce Trent 1100 and General Electric GEnx engines) developed for the B787. To increase passenger comfort, the cabin of the A350 will be 3 inches (75 mm) wider than the A330 and will offer more headroom, while sharing the same external diameter. This is possible doe to the reduced amount of sound insulation required by the composite fuselage.