A milestone has been reached in the testing phase of what could potentially become the world’s longest flights, connecting London to the east coast of Australia. The trial of a new ultra-long-range plane, the Qantas Airbus, capable of flying for 22 hours, commenced with its inaugural test departure from a French airport. Pilots conducted a four-hour test flight, marking the start of a two-month testing period.
Following its takeoff from Toulouse, the aircraft will undergo redesign by Qantas, which includes the installation of four different seating configurations. This particular plane is the second of 12 A350-1000ULR planes constructed for the airline, featuring an additional fuel tank and enhanced fridges for improved efficiency in maximizing travel distance.
During the test flight, pilots and crew assessed the new fuel system and conducted performance evaluations, with the extra fuel tank providing an extended range of 1,118 miles. A Qantas spokesperson reported that the test flight lasted three hours and 43 minutes, reaching an altitude exceeding 41,000 feet.
Qantas intends to reveal the first route and schedule for passenger flights on the new aircraft later this month. Airbus faced delays in delivering the plane due to supply chain issues, pushing the timeline back by approximately four months.
The upcoming Qantas flights will be the first non-stop services connecting Australia’s east coast to London and New York. The airline spokesperson emphasized that the successful test flight initiates a two-month testing phase, including around 80 hours of flight trials and extensive checks on both airborne and ground components.
Ahead of its expected delivery to the airline in April, the plane will undergo refurbishment and receive a new paint job. Subsequent deliveries are scheduled to follow rapidly after April, according to the Qantas spokesperson.
Currently, Qantas operates non-stop Perth-London flights lasting around 18 hours. The introduction of the new planes is anticipated to reduce travel time for passengers. Singapore Airlines presently operates the longest commercial flights globally, connecting New York and New Jersey to Singapore in Southeast Asia.
