Reading level:

Airbus A340-200/300/500/600

Airbus · Widebody / Heavy / Commercial Aviation · France · Modern (1992–2009)

Airbus A340-200/300/500/600 — Widebody / Heavy / Commercial Aviation
Open in interactive gallery →

The Airbus A340 is a four-engine, wide-body, twin-aisle airliner produced by Airbus from 1991 to 2011. Designed alongside the twin-engine A330 as a regulation-driven response to ETOPS-restricted ultra-long-haul routes, the A340 carved out a niche for non-stop polar and trans-Pacific services that twin-engine competitors couldn't yet legally fly. Subsequent ETOPS rule expansions and the rise of fuel-efficient twin-engine widebodies (777, A330, 787) ultimately ended its commercial career — only 377 A340 airframes were built before production ceased on 10 November 2011.

The A340 was launched in June 1987 alongside the A330. Both shared a common wing, fuselage, and cockpit; the A340 carried four CFM International CFM56-5C engines (later Rolls-Royce Trent 500 on the A340-500 / A340-600), the A330 two. The first A340-300 entered service with Lufthansa on 15 March 1993. Four passenger fuselage lengths were produced — the A340-200 (59.4 m, 232-303 seats, 7,400 nm range, service entry 1993), the A340-300 (63.7 m, 295-440 seats, 7,400 nm range, service entry 1993), the long-range A340-500 (67.9 m, 313-359 seats, 9,000 nm range — for many years the world's longest-range commercial airliner, service entry 2003), and the high-capacity A340-600 (75.4 m, 380-440 seats, 7,500 nm range, service entry 2002).

The A340-500 was particularly distinctive as the world's longest-range commercial passenger jet at its 2003 service entry, capable of New York-Singapore (8,300 nm) and Singapore-Newark (9,500 nm) nonstop — the latter operated by Singapore Airlines from 2004 to 2013, and again from 2018 with the A350-900ULR replacement. The A340-600 was the world's longest commercial airliner by fuselage length (75.4 m) until the 747-8 entered service in 2011.

By the late 2000s the A340 was struggling to compete economically with twin-engine alternatives — the 777-200LR and 777-300ER had similar range with two engines instead of four, dramatically lower fuel burn, and lower maintenance costs. ETOPS-330 (2007) effectively eliminated the regulatory case for four-engine airframes on virtually all over-water routes. Airbus announced production end on 10 November 2011 after 377 deliveries. As of 2026 approximately 60 A340s remain in commercial service, primarily with Lufthansa (largest operator at 12+, A340-300 and A340-600), Air France-KLM (a few A340-300 still flying), Iberia, and Mahan Air. The A340 has effectively been replaced by the A350, the 787 Dreamliner, and the 777 family for both medium- and ultra-long-haul missions.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Airbus A340 was Europe's first long-range wide-body airliner. It was Airbus's competitor to the Boeing 747 and 777. The A340 first flew in 1991 and entered service in 1993. Airbus made it 4-engine specifically because long ocean flights at the time required 4 engines for safety. About 380 A340s were built between 1991 and 2011.

The A340 came in four sizes. The A340-200 (smallest), A340-300 (most-common), A340-500 (longest range — over 10,000 miles non-stop), and A340-600 (longest at 247 feet — longer than any other airliner at the time). Different versions carried 261-340 passengers.

The A340 had a tough commercial life. It competed against the Boeing 777, a twin-engine wide-body that used less fuel per passenger. By the 2000s, rules had changed: twin-engine airliners (like the 777) were allowed to fly long ocean routes, removing the A340's only real advantage. Airlines preferred the cheaper-to-fly 777, and Airbus stopped making A340s in 2011.

About 150 A340s still fly today. Some retired — Lufthansa, Air France, Iberia, Cathay Pacific. Others are still flying with airlines that picked them up second-hand. The A340 is mostly replaced by the smaller A330neo or the bigger A350. The A340's main legacy: it was the platform that taught Airbus how to make long-range wide-body airliners — knowledge that made the A350 possible later.

Fun Facts

  • About 380 Airbus A340s were built between 1991 and 2011.
  • The A340-600 is 247 feet long — was the longest airliner ever when built.
  • Four sizes: A340-200 (smallest), -300 (most-common), -500 (longest range), -600 (longest body).
  • The A340-500 can fly over 10,000 miles non-stop — far enough for the longest passenger routes.
  • The A340 had 4 engines because long ocean routes required them in the 1990s.
  • Airbus stopped building A340s in 2011 because airlines preferred the cheaper twin-engine 777.
  • About 150 A340s still fly today, mostly with smaller airlines that bought used aircraft.

Kids’ Questions

Why did 4-engine airliners go out of style?

In the 1980s, rules said twin-engine airliners couldn't fly more than 60 minutes from an airport — too dangerous if one engine failed. So long ocean flights needed 4 engines. Then, in the 1990s and 2000s, jet engines became so reliable that the rules changed. Twin-engine airliners were allowed to fly any route, including long oceans. Two engines + better reliability = cheaper to fly than four engines. Airlines switched to twin-engine wide-bodies (777, 787, A330, A350). Today, no new 4-engine airliner is being built. Even the iconic 747 has stopped production. Twin-engine is the future.

What does the A340-500 hold the record for?

The A340-500 held the world record for the longest commercial passenger flight when Singapore Airlines flew it nonstop between Singapore and Newark, NJ from 2004 to 2013. The flight took 18-19 hours and covered 9,500 miles. Singapore Airlines used special A340-500s with extra fuel tanks and reduced seating (just 100 first/business class seats — no economy). Eventually fuel costs made the route unprofitable, and Singapore Airlines retired the A340-500s in 2013. The route was later revived with the more-efficient A350-900ULR in 2018, now flown daily.

Variants

A340-200
Original short-fuselage variant — 59.4 m long, 232-303 seats, 7,400 nm range. Limited commercial appeal — only 28 built. Operators included Air France, Air Tahiti Nui, ROMAVIA.
A340-300
Original full-fuselage variant — 63.7 m, 295-440 seats, 7,400 nm range. The dominant production variant — 218 built. Lufthansa launch operator (March 1993); served as the standard long-haul Airbus widebody until the A350 replaced it.
A340-500
Long-range variant — 67.9 m, 313-359 seats, 9,000 nm range. The world's longest-range commercial airliner at 2003 service entry. Famous for Singapore Airlines' Singapore-Newark nonstop (9,500 nm) operating 2004-2013. 34 built; most retired.
A340-600
High-capacity variant — 75.4 m (the world's longest commercial airliner at the time), 380-440 seats, 7,500 nm range. 97 built. Lufthansa, Iberia, Virgin Atlantic principal operators.
Government / VVIP variants
Several A340-200 / A340-300 airframes converted to government / VVIP transport for the German Air Force, French Air Force, and other state operators. None converted to military tanker (A330 MRTT served that role).

Notable Operators

Lufthansa
Largest A340 operator at peak (~30 airframes; ~12 still flying in 2026). Used A340-300 / A340-600 on transatlantic and intra-European long-haul. Phased retirement underway in favour of A350-900 / 787.
Air France / Iberia / KLM
Major European flag carrier A340-300 operators. Most retired by 2020; a few A340-300 still in mixed-fleet operations.
Singapore Airlines
Operated five A340-500 on Singapore-Newark / Singapore-Los Angeles nonstop services 2004-2013. Discontinued the routes due to economics; later restored Singapore-Newark with A350-900ULR.
Other operators
Mahan Air, Tianjin Airlines, Cathay Pacific (retired 2008), Virgin Atlantic (retired 2015), Iberia (retired 2020), Royal Brunei (retired 2008), Sri Lankan Airlines (retired 2017). The A340 is now a niche fleet-asset for a small number of operators.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the A340 fail commercially compared to the A330?

Engine count. The four-engine A340 had higher fuel burn, higher maintenance cost, and required more crew (4 engines vs 2 to monitor) than the twin-engine A330 on broadly similar missions. The A340's regulatory advantage — no ETOPS restrictions — disappeared as ETOPS-180 / ETOPS-240 / ETOPS-330 rules expanded coverage to nearly all over-water routes by 2010. Twin-engine widebodies (A330, 777, 787) ultimately offered better economics on every mission the A340 was designed for. Airbus announced production end in November 2011 after 377 deliveries; the A330 continues in production with over 1,800 airframes delivered.

What was the world's longest-range commercial airliner before the A350-900ULR?

The Airbus A340-500. With a 9,000 nm range and 313-359 seats, it operated several routes that no other airliner could fly nonstop at its 2003 service entry — most famously the Singapore Airlines Singapore-Newark nonstop (9,500 nm), operated 2004-2013 in all-business-class configuration. The A340-500 was succeeded by the A350-900ULR (Ultra Long Range, 9,700 nm), which Singapore Airlines uses on the same Singapore-Newark service since 2018. (Airbus A350)

How is the A340 related to the A330?

They are sibling designs — common wing, common fuselage, common cockpit, common type rating. Airbus launched both in June 1987, with the A330 carrying two engines for ETOPS-permitted routes and the A340 carrying four engines for ETOPS-restricted ultra-long-haul. The two aircraft are visually similar; the A340 has four engine pylons (two per wing) and a slightly different MLG bogie configuration. Pilots qualified on one type can fly the other with minimal additional training.

What is the longest commercial airliner ever?

The Boeing 747-8 (76.3 m fuselage) — slightly longer than the A340-600 (75.4 m) which had held the record from 2002 until the 747-8's 2011 service entry. The A340-600 remains the longest twin-aisle airliner without a hump (the 747-8's 76.3 m measures including the hump). For passenger capacity the 747-8 also exceeds the A340-600 at 467 seats vs 380-440.

Why did Singapore Airlines use the A340-500 for Singapore-Newark?

Range and configuration. The Singapore-Newark route (9,534 nm) was beyond the range of every other commercial jet at the time. Singapore Airlines used five all-business-class A340-500s (98 seats vs typical 313) configured for premium ultra-long-haul leisure / business traffic. The configuration and route were profitable for nine years until rising fuel prices made the A340-500's four engines uneconomic; the route was discontinued in 2013 and re-established in 2018 with the more efficient A350-900ULR.

Are any A340s still being built?

No. Airbus announced A340 production end on 10 November 2011 after 377 deliveries. The Toulouse final-assembly line for the type was rolled into A330 / A350 production. Approximately 60 A340 airframes remain in commercial service in 2026, primarily as legacy fleet at Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, and a small number of niche operators. Most operators are replacing them with A350-900 / A350-1000 or 787 Dreamliner.

Sources

See Also