The A350 XWB is now scheduled to enter service in the second half of 2014. Airbus has booked a charge of €124 million to account for the delay of around three months from the previous reschedule it announced in November 2011.

The aircraft was originally expected to enter service in 2013.

According to a report on the BBC's website, the latest delay is the result of a problem involving drilling holes in the aircraft's wings with the preparation for a new automated drilling process taking longer than expected.

The A350 XWB will be the first Airbus to be over 50% composite.