Airbus A350: From factory to flight

The new A350XWB is a vital aircraft for Airbus. The result of a $15bn investment, it is being marketed as a direct competitor to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.

And like its rival, the A350 has been largely built using carbon composites and other advanced materials in an effort to minimise weight and maximise fuel efficiency.

Theo Leggett has been looking at some of the processes involved and finding out why it is not just Airbus which needs the A350 programme to be a success.