Airbus has flown the first example of the growth-weight version of the A340-500/600 family, kicking off a six-month certification process. The growth -600 has a maximum take-off weight of 380t and a range of 14,630km (7,900nm), and Airbus says the aircraft can seat 380 passengers in a three-class configuration. Emirates was launch customer for the Rolls-Royce Trent 500-powered higher-weight -600 in 2003, but Qatar Airways will take delivery of the first example in mid-2006.
Source: Flight International
