Berlin (dpa) – Higher, further, faster: Chancellor Angela Merkel and her ministers have a new aircraft for their business trips that puts all previous models in the shade. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas was the first to take off for Cairo on Sunday evening in the Airbus A350, where he will take part in talks on the Middle East conflict on Monday. After just under four hours, the SPD politician landed safely in the Egyptian capital with the machine appropriately named after the former SPD chairman Kurt Schumacher.
The new plane is now the flagship of the so-called white fleet of the Bundeswehr, which mainly transports members of the federal government. It is 67 meters long, 13,100 meters high and can fly non-stop 18,000 kilometers – almost halfway around the world, even as far as Auckland in New Zealand.
The maximum speed is 960 km / h, the normal cruising speed around 910 km / h. 133 passengers fit on the plane. So far, the A340s have been the best pieces of airworthiness in the Bundeswehr. But they can make it a maximum of 15,200 kilometers and have a cruising speed of only 890 km / h.
The air force spokesman, Thorsten Weber, said the plane had already been tested on a long-haul flight last year. “The flight went non-stop to Canberra. That was 17,000 kilometers. ” After 19 hours, the plane landed safely in Australia. The German government has ordered a total of three A350-900 aircraft. When the other two will be delivered is still unclear.
Maas takes part in talks in Egypt on Monday on a possible revival of the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. In Cairo, the SPD politician will meet with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan and France.
– .
