Airbus has started making the first carbon fibre barrel for the A350 XWB fuselage at the company's production plant in Illescas, Spain. The carbon fibre placement process used for producing the 5.5 metre long, 56 square metre fuselage barrel, known as section 19, will be completed in the coming weeks.

The majority of the A350 XWB fuselage is made from long carbon fibre panels which are easier to manufacture and to assemble than barrel sections. However for the rear part of the fuselage which is tapered, Airbus has selected a barrel as being the optimum structure.

Designed and manufactured with the right material and the right technology at the right place, the A350 XWB will shape the efficiency of medium-to-long haul airline operations from 2013 onwards.