Edelweiss’ brand-new Airbus A350 reaches a higher maximum cruising altitude on European routes than other aircraft.
The airline received its first A350, registration HB-IHF, on March 13 of this year. After being grounded for about three weeks, the aircraft made its commercial debut for Edelweiss earlier this month. Although this aircraft is typically used on long-haul routes, the airline is currently deploying it on European routes. The reason for this is that the crews are being trained before the aircraft are used for long-distance flights. “We are currently using the A350 at this maximum altitude within the approved operational limits,” explained a spokesperson from Edelweiss to aeroTELEGRAPH.
Maximum cruising altitude
Edelweiss has recently deployed its A350 on flights from the Swiss city of Zurich to Spanish destinations such as Tenerife, Ibiza, and Palma de Mallorca, as well as Greek Heraklion, Portuguese Faro, and Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. On these routes, the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 43,000 feet (just over 13,000 meters), causing the route on Flightradar24 to appear in red, similar to what happens on Finnair flights with the same aircraft type on short-haul routes. At this altitude, air resistance is lower, as is fuel consumption. “Using FL430 offers significant operational benefits, especially in terms of efficiency and traffic management,” said the spokesperson, who added that this ensures the “optimal economic efficiency of its flights.”
Comparison with other aircraft
The A350 can reach a higher cruising altitude than other aircraft. An A340, another aircraft in Edelweiss’ fleet, is certified to fly up to a cruising altitude of 41,000 feet, while an A320 has a maximum altitude of 39,000 feet.