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"The A340-500 is currently the world's longest-range commercial airliner, until the introduction of the Boeing 777-200LR ""World-liner"" in early 2006.
It can fly 313 passengers in a three-class cabin layout over 8,650 nautical miles (16,000 km). Singapore Airlines, for example, currently uses this model for its Newark, New Jersey-Singapore nonstop route, an 18-hour journey that is the longest non-stop commercial flight in the world.
The A340-500 is capable of traveling non-stop from London to Perth, Australia[2]. Also, Thai Airways International flies this model for its non-stop flights from Bangkok to Los Angeles and Bangkok to New York, while Air Canada flies this model for its non-stop flights from Toronto to Hong Kong.
Compared with the A340-300, the -500 features a 3.3 m fuselage stretch, an enlarged wing area, massive increase in fuel capacity (around 50% over -300), slightly higher cruising speed, larger horizontal stabilizer and smaller vertical tail-plane.
The A340-500/-600 has taxi cameras to help the pilots during ground maneuvers. The A340-500 is powered by four 53,000 lbf (236 kN) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 553 turbofans.
The A340-500HGW (High Gross Weight) version with a range of 9,000 nm (16,700 km) and an MTOW of 380 tons is due to enter service in 2007 with Thai Airways International.
It will use the strengthened structure and enlarged fuel capacity of the A340-600HGW. The A340-500HGW is powered by four 56,000 lbf (249 kN) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 556 turbofans. The direct Boeing equivalent is the 777-200LR, which entered service in February 2006."
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