Andrew Doyle/MUNICH
Airbus Industrie plans to launch a higher maximum take-off weight (MTOW)version of the A340-500 to boost the aircraft's range, following the launch of the rival Boeing 777-200LR.
Industry sources say the consortium is already offering Cathay Pacific a 371t MTOW variant - 6t heavier than the 365t baseline aircraft - although Airbus declines to comment. "We don't talk about specific campaigns," it says. "We are looking at increasing the MTOW slightly, but we are not ready to say by how much."
Last year, Airbus confirmed that it had asked suppliers on the A340-500/600 programme to "study the consequences" of a 6.8t increase in MTOW, but denied the move was prompted by concerns over whether the two models would meet their range targets (Flight International, 21-27 July, 1999).
"It is not specifically aimed at giving us a more comfortable margin, although that will be one of the benefits of doing it," says Airbus. "The aircraft are a little bit heavier than expected, but the windtunnel tests suggest performance will be better than predictions," it adds.
The extra weight, carried as fuel, would extend the range of the A340-500 by 370km (200nm). The baseline -500 is designed to fly 15,725km while the larger -600 should offer a range of 13,875km.
Based on windtunnel testing, Airbus predicts that at M0.83 the basic 365t MTOW -500 will beat its range target by 300km while the -600 will have an extra 150km (Flight International, 22-28 February). This is despite the two models having operational empty weights respectively 1t and 1.5t higher than expected.
Boeing claims its recently launched 777-200LR will fly 500km further than the similarly sized A340-500, although this will be achieved by incorporating two auxiliary fuel tanks in the rear cargo hold. The 777-300ERis designed to fly 13,380km, about 300km less than the A340-600.
The MTOW of the Boeing twins will, however, be around 25t less than the A340-500 and -600.
Cathay Pacific is evaluating the A340-500 and 777-200LR ahead of its planned launch of new non-stop transpacific services and is expected to announce an aircraft selection by July.
Meanwhile, Cathay is to buy Boeing's 777-200 development aircraft as a near-term solution to bolstering its capacity. The aircraft, in storage, will be fitted with Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engines.
Source: Flight International
