The airframer has not disclosed a date for the maiden flight of the stretched aircraft, and is maintaining only that the twinjet is scheduled to fly in the fourth quarter.

But a source with knowledge of progress on the programme says the manufacturer’s test-flight team is “shooting for November”.

Airbus has recently installed the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines on the first -1000 in the three-aircraft test fleet.

It is carrying out cabin-fit on the second aircraft and finalising the production of the third.

Airbus has secured orders for 195 A350-1000s, with the first due to enter service in the second half of 2017.