Report: A350-800 first delivery shifts to 2016, A350-1000 to 2017

With possible delays looming for the A350-900, Airbus is set to delay its two follow on models by two years, reports La Tribune.

According to the report, the smaller -800, a direct shrink of the -900, is currently due for service entry with Qatar Airways in 2014, but is now expected to slip to 2016 to incorporate additional customer feedback.

Last week, industry buzz pointed to a coming slip in the -800, in addition to the required changes on the A350-1000's Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine, and there were even significant signs pointing to a potential shelving of the -800 in favor of developing the -1000 first. It is believed that customers may have saved the -800 from oblivion, despite a lack of recent order activity for the type as well as conversions to the larger -900.

Additionally, the slip of the of the A350-1000 was widely expected with the requirement for the updated core, pushing its first delivery, also to Qatar Airways, to 2017.