The world's newest commercial airliner, Airbus' A340-600, took off today at London's Heathrow airport to start a two week route proving tour. The route proving is part of the certification program for the A340-600, to ensure excellent operational standards right from the first day in airline service. Designed as the 21st century replacement for older-generation jumbo jets, the A340-600 can carry 380 passengers over a range of up to 13,900 km (7,500 nautical miles) in a typical three-class layout.
The aircraft will go on a three-continent - multi-city tour and will arrive in a host of Asian and North American cities on two separate circuits London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Taipei, Los Angeles and New York with Virgin Atlantic this week; and Frankfurt, Singapore, Manila, Bangkok, Shanghai, San Francisco, Montreal and Vancouver with Lufthansa next week.
Together with its sister aircraft, the ultra long range A340-500, both new-generation variants will pave the way for ultra long-range, non-stop trans-Pacific flights from Asia for the first time. From the region, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and China Eastern are among the operators for the A340-500/-600. Cathay Pacific is poised to operate the A340-600 on non-stop flights to New York later this year, while Singapore Airlines will inaugurate non-stop flights to US destinations in late 2003 with the A340-500.
In North America, Air Canada and ILFC have selected the A340-500 and 600. Air Canada will be the first customer for the A340-500 - with a range of 8,650nm/16,000km the longest range aircraft in the world - and will take delivery of the first A340-500 end of this year.
The A340-600 is the largest variant in Airbus' market-leading A330/A340 Family. Powered by four Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines, the aircraft is capable of operating on ultra long-haul routes free from the strict regime of constraints that govern long-range flights over oceans or desolate terrain with twin-engine aircraft. This translates into more direct and quicker routes, resulting in reduced flight times and substantial fuel and cost savings.
Data gathered over the past 12 months of extensive flight testing has shown that the A340-600 is significantly less expensive to operate than similar capacity twin-engine jets. The aircraft's superior range and payload capabilities offer airlines greater flexibility in adapting to changing market conditions on a route-by-route basis. Both the A340-500/-600 remain clear leaders in their category, with 56 per cent of the market at the end of 2001.
The A340-600 was launched in December 1997 and made its maiden flight last April. The first three examples have since been engaged in an extensive certification and performance validation program culminating in 1,420 hours and 470 flights as at end-March. The A340-600 will enter into commercial airline service with Virgin Atlantic in mid-2002.
A leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive product line on the market, Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain as well as subsidiaries in the U.S., China and Japan. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is a joint EADS Company with BAE Systems.
