New airbus makes maiden test flight

Airbus's next-generation A350 plane has taken off on its first test flight, in a milestone for an airliner that the firm hopes will challenge Boeing's 787 Dreamliner in the lucrative long-haul market.

The plane took off from the airport in the French city of Toulouse for a flight due to last four hours.

Airbus is predicting hundreds of orders for the A350 at next week's Paris Air Show as the European company ups the fight against Boeing.

It will enter a test-flying period of around 18 months, with the first delivery expected at the end of next year.

Confirmed customers so far include Qatar Airways, British Airways and Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific.