Recently, a new ultra-long-range plane underwent testing for potential record-breaking flights from London to the east coast of Australia. The Qantas Airbus, designed for flights lasting up to 22 hours, commenced its trial by taking off from an airport in France. During the four-hour test flight, pilots evaluated the aircraft, marking the beginning of a two-month testing period.
Following its departure from Toulouse, the plane will undergo redesign by Qantas, which includes the installation of four different seating configurations. This aircraft is the second of 12 A350-1000ULR planes constructed for the airline, featuring an additional fuel tank and enhanced refrigeration systems for improved efficiency and extended travel range.
Pilots and crew conducted tests on the new fuel system and assessed overall performance, noting that the extra tank provides an impressive 1,118 miles of additional range. A Qantas spokesperson reported that the test flight lasted three hours and 43 minutes, with the plane reaching an altitude exceeding 41,000 feet.
Qantas plans to reveal the inaugural route and schedule for passenger flights aboard the new aircraft later this month. Delays in the plane’s delivery, attributed to supply chain challenges acknowledged by Airbus, have pushed back the timeline by approximately four months.
The upcoming flights will mark the first non-stop services from Australia’s east coast to London and New York, according to a Qantas spokesperson. The spokesperson highlighted the commencement of a comprehensive two-month testing phase, which includes around 80 hours of flight testing and thorough on-ground inspections for certification of new and modified components.
Prior to its delivery to the airline in April, the plane will undergo refurbishment and repainting. Subsequently, the following four planes are set to be delivered in rapid succession, as indicated by the Qantas spokesperson.
Currently, Qantas operates non-stop Perth-London flights lasting approximately 18 hours. The introduction of the new aircraft is expected to reduce travel time for passengers. Notably, Singapore Airlines currently holds the record for the longest commercial flights globally, connecting New York and New Jersey to Singapore in Southeast Asia.