Airbus A350 - world's newest airliner - takes off from Qatar to Germany

The world's newest airliner, the Airbus A350, took to the skies this week carrying its first paying passengers from the Gulf Arab nation of Qatar.

The Qatar Airways flight departed the Qatari capital Doha bound for Frankfurt, Germany. It marks the debut of the relatively lightweight, twin-aisle, long-range plane, which promises to connect smaller cities with major aviation hubs non-stop at a cheaper cost for airlines.

For passengers, the new plane offers wider panoramic windows and larger overhead storage space plus the ability to limit connections.

Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific is expecting its first A350 next year and plans to operate 48 by 2020.

The A350 is the third - and final - major new aircraft in a decade. Its lightweight design allows it to burn significantly less fuel than other jets of similar size. A little more than half of the structure is made of composite materials. More than 70 per cent of the plane is made up of lightweight materials.

Airbus says the A350 will help open up non-stop routes such as Shanghai to Boston in the US. It can fly 276 to 369 passengers, depending on the variant and seating configuration.