Cathay Pacific Airways' first Airbus A350 XWB completed its maiden flight in Toulouse, France on Thursday, clearing the way for final preparations leading to its delivery in the second quarter for the Hong Kong-based airline.

The A350-900 jetliner, bearing registration number B-LRA, is expected to be delivered to Cathay Pacific in May, a further push back from the April target announced earlier this year, the Hong Kong-based carrier disclosed last week in its 2015 annual results.

Cathay Pacific has 22 A350-900s and 26 A350-1000s on order. The airline is due to take delivery of 12 A350-900ss this year and ten more in 2017, to be followed by 26 of the larger and longer-range A350-1000s from 2018 through to 2020.