Airbus has conducted the first flight of a new higher-weight variant of its A340-500/600 long-haul transport, ahead of a six-month certification process.
The aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 380t and a range of some 7,900nm (14,630km) – an increase of about 250nm on its predecessor – while typically accommodating 380 passengers in a three-class configuration.
Airbus says the first test flight of the Rolls-Royce Trent 500-powered jet from Toulouse today lasted four and a half hours.
Emirates became the launch customer for the type in 2003 but Qatar Airways will take delivery of the first example next summer.
Source: Flight Daily News
