Airbus has formally listed its highest weight variant for the A350-1000, which will have a maximum takeoff weight of 319 tonnes. The new version, designated WV006, is three tonnes heavier than the previous variants, WV002 and WV011, at 316 tonnes.
The new variant will have the same fuel capacity as the others, a figure Airbus pegs as 156.000 liters – although the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) puts the usable fuel of the -1000 at just under 158.800 litres, including nearly 100.000 liters in the center tank.
The aircraft is listed with a maximum weight without fuel of 223 tonnes in the airport's revised planning documentation, with a maximum landing weight of 236 tonnes.
No payload range data has been presented, but Airbus still lists the typical range of the 316-tonne version at around 8.200 nautical miles (15.186 kilometers) with 366 engers.
Airbus had already signaled that a heavier structure would be the basis of its offer to Qantas for the Australian company's Project Sunrise.
The program aims to provide non-stop flights to cities such as Sydney and Melbourne from points such as London and New York – although, as a consequence of the pandemic, the airline has yet to order the intended A350-1000s and has indicated that it will delay the start of the project by 2024.
Qantas selected the A350-1000, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, after considering the Boeing 777X with the General Electric GE9X.
Airbus is yet to confirm whether the Qantas aircraft – which will have a range of 8.700 nautical miles – will include additional fuel capacity beyond the base value of the -1000 version, but has avoided suggesting it will be an 'ultra-long range' modification in the same vein. than the A350-900ULR.
Singapore Airlines has introduced the A350-900ULR – designated as the WV013 weight variant of the -900 – which has a higher usable fuel volume, disabled forward cargo bay and fewer seats to achieve the required range.
