Airbus A340
Encyclopedia
The Airbus A340 is a long-range four-engine wide-body commercial passenger jet airliner
. Developed by Airbus Industrie,A consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS
and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. a consortium
of European aerospace companies, which is now fully owned by EADS
, the A340 was assembled at Toulouse
, France. It seats up to 375 passengers in the standard variants and 440 in the stretched −600 series. Depending on the model, it has a range of between 6700 to 9000 nmi (12,408.4 to 16,668 km). It is similar in design to the twin-engined A330
with which it was concurrently designed. Its distinguishing features are four high-bypass turbofan engines and three-bogie
main landing gear
.
Airbus manufactured the A340 in four fuselage lengths. The initial variant, A340-300, which entered service in 1993, measured 59.39 metres (194.8 ft). The shorter −200 was developed next, and the A340-600 was a 15.91 metres (52.2 ft) stretch of the −200. The -600 was developed alongside the shorter A340-500, which would become the longest-ranged commercial airliner until the arrival of the Boeing 777-200LR
. The two initial models were powered by the CFM56-5C
, rated at 151 kilonewtons (33,946.2 lbf), while Rolls-Royce held exclusive powerplant
rights to the extended-ranged and heavier −500 and −600 models, through the 267 kilonewtons (60,024 lbf) Rolls-Royce Trent 500
. Initial A340 versions share the fuselage
and wing
of the A330 while the −500/-600 models are longer and have larger wings.
Launch customers Lufthansa
and Air France
placed the A340 into service in March 1993. As of September 2011, 379 orders had been placed (not including private operators), of which 375 were delivered. The most common type were the A340-300 model, with 218 aircraft delivered. Lufthansa is the biggest operator of the A340, having acquired 59 aircraft. The A340 is used on long-haul, trans-oceanic routes due to its immunity from ETOPS; however, with reliability in engines improving, airlines are progressively phasing out the type in favour of more economical twinjet
s such as the .
Airbus announced on November 10, 2011, that the A340 program had been terminated due to lack of new orders.
during the 1970s, it envisioned a broad family of airliners to compete against Boeing
and Douglas
, two established US aerospace manufacturers. From the moment of formation, Airbus had begun studies into derivatives of the Airbus A300B in support of this long-term goal. Prior to the service introduction of the first Airbus airliners, Airbus had identified nine possible variations of the A300 known as A300B1 to B9. A 10th variation, conceived in 1973, later the first to be constructed, was designated the A300B10. It was a smaller aircraft that would be developed into the long-range Airbus A310
. Airbus then focused its efforts on the single-aisle market, which resulted in the Airbus A320 family
, which was the first digital fly-by-wire
commercial aircraft. The decision to work on the A320, instead of a four-engine aircraft proposed by the Germans, created divisions within Airbus. As the SA or "single aisle" studies (which later became the successful Airbus A320) underwent development to challenge the successful Boeing 737
and Douglas DC-9 in the single-aisle, narrow-body airliner
market, Airbus turned its focus back to the wide-body aircraft
market.
The A300B11, a derivative of the A310, was designed upon the availability of "ten ton" engines. It would seat between 180 to 200 passengers, and have a range of 6000 nautical miles (11,112 km). It was deemed the replacement for the less-efficient Boeing 707
s and Douglas DC-8
s still in service.
The A300B11 was joined by another design, the A300B9, which was a larger derivative of the A300. The B9 was developed by Airbus from the early 1970s at a slow pace until the early 1980s. It was essentially a stretched A300 with the same wing, coupled with the most powerful turbofan engine at the time. It was targeted at the growing demand for high-capacity, medium-range, transcontinental trunk routes. The B9 would offer the same range
and payload as the McDonnell Douglas DC-10
, but would use between 25% to 38% less fuel. The B9 was therefore considered the replacement for the DC-10 and the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar. To differentiate the programme from the SA studies, the B9 and B11 were redesignated the TA9 and TA11 (TA standing for "twin aisle"), respectively. In an effort to save development costs, it was decided that the two would share the same wing
and airframe
; the projected savings were estimated at US$500 million (about £490 million or €495 million). The adoption of a common wing structure also had one technical advantage: the TA11's outboard engines could counteract the weight of the longer-range model by providing bending relief. Another factor was the split preference of those within Airbus and, more importantly, prospective airliner customers. Airbus vice president for strategic planning, Adam Brown, recalled,
By the time of the Paris Air Show
in June 1985, more refinements had been made to the TA9 and TA11, including the adoption of the A320 flight deck
, fly-by-wire
(FBW) flight control system and side-stick
control. The adoption of a common cockpit design across the new Airbus series allowed operators to make significant cost savings; flight crews would be able to transition from one to another after one week of training. The TA11 and TA12 would use the front and rear fuselage sections of the A310. Components across the aircraft were modular, and interchangeable with other Airbus aircraft where possible. Airbus briefly considered a variable camber wing
; the concept was that the wing could change its profile to produce the optimum shape for a given phase of flight. Studies were carried out by British Aerospace
(BAe) at Hatfield
and Bristol
. Airbus estimated this would yield a 2% improvement in aerodynamic efficiency. However, the plan was later abandoned on grounds of cost and difficulty of development.
Airbus briefly entered discussions with McDonnell Douglas
about teaming up to produce the planned AM 300. This aeroplane would have combined the wing of the A330 with the fuselage of the McDonnell Douglas MD-11
. However, talks terminated as McDonnell insisted on the continuation of its trijet
heritage. Eventually, McDonnell Douglas would merge with Boeing, contributed by the commercial failure of its MD-11 design, which competed directly with the A340.
From the start, it was intended that the A340 would be powered by four CFM56-5
turbofan engines, capable of 25000 pound-forces (111.2 kN). Airbus also considered a trijet due to the limited power of engines available at the time, namely the Rolls-Royce RB211-535
and Pratt & Whitney JT10D-232.
On 27 January 1986, the Airbus Industrie Supervisory Board held a meeting in Munich
, West Germany
, after which board-chairman Franz Josef Strauß
released a statement, "Airbus Industrie is now in a position to finalise the detailed technical definition of the TA9, which is now officially designated the A330, and the TA11, now called the A340, with potential launch customer airlines, and to discuss with them the terms and conditions for launch commitments". The designations were originally reversed because the airlines believed it illogical for a two-engine
jet airliner to have a "4" in its name, whilst a quad-jet would not.
On 12 May, Airbus sent new sale proposals to five prospective airlines including Lufthansa
and Swissair
.
was the site of BAe's £
7 million investment in a three-storey technical centre with an extra 15000 square metres (161,458.7 sq ft) of floor area. BAe also spent £5 million expanding the Chester
wing production plant by 14000 m² (150,694.7 sq ft) to accommodate a new production line. However, France saw the biggest changes with Aérospatiale
starting construction of a new Fr.
2.5 billion ($411 million) assembly plant, adjacent to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, in Colomiers
. By November 1988, the first 21 m (68.9 ft) pillars were erected for the new Clément Ader
assembly hall. The assembly process, meanwhile, would feature increased automation with holes for the wing-fuselage mating process drilled by eight robots. The use of automation for this particular process saved Airbus 20% on labour costs and 5% on time.
British Aerospace accepted £450 million funding from the UK government, although it was well short of the £750 million originally requested. Funds from the French and German governments followed thereafter. Airbus also issued subcontracts to companies in Austria, Australia, Canada, China, Greece, Italy, India, Japan, South Korea, Portugal, the United States of America, and the former Yugoslavia
. The A330 and A340 programmes were jointly launched on 5 June 1987, just prior to the Paris Air Show. The order book then stood at 130 aircraft from 10 customers, apart from the above-mentioned Lufthansa and International Lease Finance Corporation
(ILFC). Eighty-nine of the total orders were A340 models. Over at McDonnell Douglas, ongoing tests of the MD-11 revealed a significant shortfall in the aircraft's performance. An important prospective carrier, Singapore Airlines
(SIA), required a fully laden aircraft that could fly from Singapore to Paris, against strong headwinds during mid-winter in the northern hemisphere. The MD-11, according to test results, would experience fuel starvation
over the Balkans. Due to the less-than-expected performance figures, SIA cancelled its 20-aircraft MD-11 order on 2 August 1991, and ordered 20 A340-300s instead.
The first flight
of the A340 occurred on 21 October 1991, marking the start of a 2,000-hour test flight programme involving six aircraft. From the start, engineers noticed that the wings were not strong enough to carry the outboard engines at cruising speed without warping
and fluttering. To alleviate this, an underwing bulge called a plastron was developed to correct airflow problems around the engine pylons
and to add stiffness. European JAA certification was obtained on 22 December 1992; FAA followed on 27 May 1993.
During the Paris Air Show, on 16 June 1993, an A340-200, named The World Ranger took off for a round-the-world demonstration and publicity-stunt flight. The aircraft, carrying 22 persons, had been modified for the flight, including the addition of five center tanks. Taking off at 11:58 local time, The World Ranger made only one stop en route in Auckland
, arriving back in Paris 48 hours and 22 minutes later, at 12:20. The flight broke six world records at the time. Among the six was the longest non-stop flight
by an airliner, when the aircraft flew 19277 kilometres (10,408.7 nmi) from Paris, arriving in Auckland in record time, keeping the record until 2005.
proposed an engine, but contract issues led Airbus to proceed with the Rolls Royce Trents in 1997. Airbus announced in April 1996 that it would offer a stretched variant, the A340-600.
During the early 21st Century, sales for the A340 began to slow. On 10 November 2011, Airbus announced the end of the A340 program. At that time it indicated that all firm orders had been delivered.
s, such as the -200ER and specifically -300ER, sales of the A340 began to decline. Over the last few years the 777 has outsold the A340 by a wide margin. Although the larger GE90 engines on the 777-300ER burn considerably more fuel than the Trent 500s, using only two of them compared to four Trents has meant a typical operating cost advantage of around 8–9%.
Airbus announced plans in January 2006 to develop the A340E (Enhanced). Airbus projected that it would be more fuel-efficient
than earlier A340s and close the 8–9% disparity with the Boeing 777 by using Trent 1500 engines. At that time Airbus predicted that it would probably produce 127 A340 units through 2016, at which time production was projected to end.
In mid-2008, jet fuel prices
doubled compared to the year before; consequently, the A340's fuel consumption led airlines to reduce flight stages exceeding 15 hours. Thai Airways International
cancelled its 17-hour, nonstop Bangkok–New York/JFK route on 1 July 2008, and placed its four A340-500s for sale. While short flights stress aircraft more than long flights and result in more frequent fuel-thirsty take-offs and landings, ultra-long flights require completely full fuel tanks. Thus en route, the plane is burning extra just to carry fuel, a "flying tanker with a few people on board," Air France-KLM
SA's chief executive Pierre-Henri Gourgeon told the Wall Street Journal.
While Thai Airways has consistently filled 80% of the seats on its New York City–Bangkok flights, it estimates that, at 2008 fuel prices, it would need an impossible 120% of seats filled just to break even. Other airlines are re-examining long-haul flights. In August 2008 Cathay Pacific
stated that rising fuel prices
were hurting its trans-Pacific long-haul routes disproportionately, and that it would cut the number of such flights and redeploy its aircraft to shorter routes such as between Hong Kong and Australia. "We will...reshap[e] our network where necessary to ensure we fly aircraft to where we can cover our costs and also make some money."
There are four variants of the A340. The A340-200 and A340-300 were launched in 1987 with introduction into service in March 1993 for the −200. The A340-500 and A340-600 were launched in 1997 with introduction into service in 2002. All variants were available in a corporate version from Airbus Executive and Private Aviation
.
of 7450 nautical miles (13,797.4 km), or with 240 passengers also in a three-class cabin layout has a range of 8000 nautical miles (14,816 km). This is the shortest version of the family and the only version with wingspan measuring greater than the length of the fuselage. It is powered by four CFMI CFM56-5C4
engines and uses the Honeywell
331–350[A] APU
. The plane was intended to open long and thin routes, especially over water. The closest Boeing competitor for this aircraft is the Boeing 767-400ER.
One version of this type (referred to by Airbus as the A340-8000) was ordered by the Sultan of Brunei requesting a non-stop range of 8000 nautical miles (14,816 km). This A340-8000 had an increased fuel capacity, an MTOW
of 275 tonnes (606,271.2 lb), similar to the A340-300, and minor reinforcements to the undercarriage
. Upon completion its final range was specified at 8100 nautical miles (15,001.2 km). It is powered by the 34000 pound-forces (151.2 kN) thrust CFM56-5C4s
similar to the −300E. Only one A340-8000 was produced by Airbus – A340-213X (msn 204). It was delivered to Brunei-based HM the Sultan's Flight in November 1998, but never entered service and was parked unfitted at Lufthansa Technik
in Hamburg
. The aircraft was later acquired in by Saudi Arabian VIP in February 2007 as it updated its widebody fleet, according to Flight's ACAS database. Besides the −8000, some A340-200s are used for VIP
or military use. Examples of these users are Royal Brunei Airlines, Qatar Amiri Flight
, Arab Republic of Egypt Government
, Saudi Arabia Air Force
, The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the French Air Force
. Other historical operators include Cathay Pacific
, Philippine Airlines
and Air Bourbon
.
Following the specially designed −8000, other A340-200s were later given performance improvement packages (PIPs) that helped them achieve similar gains in capability as to the A340-8000. Those aircraft are labeled A340-213X. The range for this version is 8000 nautical miles (14,816 km).
Due to its large wingspan, four engines, low capacity, and improvements to the A340-300, the −200 proved heavy and unpopular with mainstream airlines. Only 28 A340-200s were produced with several now in VIP service. South African Airways
is the largest operator with six aircraft. Other current operators include Aerolíneas Argentinas
(4), Royal Jordanian
(5), Egypt Air (3) and Conviasa
(1).
The A340-300 flies 295 passengers in a typical three-class cabin layout over 6700 nautical miles (12,408.4 km). This is the initial version, having flown on 25 October 1991, and entered service with Lufthansa and Air France in March 1993. It is powered by four CFMI CFM56-5C
engines and uses the Honeywell
331–350[A] APU, similar to the −200. Its closest competitor is the Boeing 777-200ER
. The A340-300 will be superseded by the A350-900.
engines. Typical range with 295 passengers is between 7200 to 7400 nmi (13,334.4 to 13,704.8 km). The largest operator of this type is Lufthansa
with 30 aircraft. It was first delivered to Singapore Airlines
in April 1996, though Singapore Airlines no longer operates this model. Two A340-300 were acquired by the Flugbereitschaft of the German Luftwaffe
to serve as VIP transports for the leaders of the German government
and the German President. Service entry will be 2011.
in 2003. It received newer CFM56-5C4/P engines and improved avionics
and fly-by-wire
systems developed for the A340-500 and −600.
The A340-500 was introduced as the world's longest-range commercial airliner. It first flew on 11 February 2002, and was certified on 3 December 2002 with early deliveries to Emirates. The A340-500 can fly 313 passengers in a three-class cabin layout over 8650 nautical miles (16,019.8 km). It remained the world's longest-range commercial airliner until the introduction of its direct equivalent, Boeing 777-200LR
, in February 2006. However, the Boeing 777-200LR is subject to the ETOPS restrictions.
Due to its range, the -500 is capable of travelling non-stop from London to Perth, Western Australia
, though a return flight requires a fuel stop due to headwinds. Singapore Airlines
, for example, initially used this model in a two-class, 181-passenger layout for its Newark
–Singapore
nonstop route
, SQ 21
: an 18-hour, 45-minute "westbound" (really northbound to 70 nautical miles (129.6 km) abeam the North Pole
; then south from there across Russia
, Mongolia
and People's Republic of China
), 18-hour, 30-minute eastbound, 8285 nautical miles (15,343.8 km) journey that remains the longest scheduled non-stop commercial flight
in the world.
Compared with the A340-300, the -500 features a 4.3 metres (14.1 ft) fuselage stretch, an enlarged wing area, significant increase in fuel capacity (around 50% over the -300), slightly higher cruising speed, larger horizontal stabilizer and smaller vertical tailplane
. The A340-500 and −600 has taxi cameras to help the pilots during ground maneuvers. The A340-500 is powered by four 53000 lbf (235.8 kN) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 553
turbofans and uses the Honeywell
331–600[A] APU. Emirates is the largest operator, with ten aircraft.
, on 11 April 2007. Kingfisher Airlines
had planned to use this model to operate nonstop flights from India to North America. However, in October 2008, Kingfisher transferred three of its five delivery positions to Arik Air
of Nigeria, due to the worldwide recession. Arik Air
received these three A340-500s in November 2008, and placed them in service on its new Lagos–London Heathrow route and Lagos-Johannesburg route, with a nonstop route to New York added in January 2010. The A340-500HGW is powered by four 56000 lbf (249.1 kN) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 556
turbofans.
replacement, the A340-600 is capable of carrying 379 passengers in a three-class cabin layout 7500 nautical miles (13,890 km). It provides similar passenger capacity to a 747 but with 25 percent more cargo volume, and at lower trip and seat costs. First flight of the A340-600 was made on 23 April 2001. Virgin Atlantic
began commercial services in August 2002. The most direct Boeing equivalent to the A340-600 is the 777-300ER
.The A340-600 will eventually be replaced by the A350-1000, which will also compete with the 777-300ER.
The A340-600 is 12 metre longer than a basic −300, more than four metres longer than the Boeing 747-400
and 2.3 metre longer than the A380
. It held the record for being the world's longest commercial aircraft until February 2010 with the first flight of the Boeing 747-8
. The A340-600 is powered by four 56000 lbf (249.1 kN) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 556
turbofan
s and uses the Honeywell
331–600[A] APU
. It also has an additional four-wheel undercarriage
on the fuselage centre-line to cope with the increased MTOW. Airbus has made provisions for freeing additional upper deck main cabin
space by providing optional arrangements for additional facilities such as crew rest areas, galleys
, and lavatories upon the "stretched" A340 aircraft's lower deck.
In April 2007, The Times
reported that Airbus had advised carriers to reduce cargo in the forward section by 5 tonnes (11,023.1 lb) to compensate for overweight first and business class sections. The additional weight causes the aircraft's centre of gravity to move forward thus reducing cruise efficiency. Airlines affected by the advisory are considering demanding compensation from Airbus.
. The A340-600HGW is powered by four 60000 lbf (266.9 kN) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 560
turbofans.
Emirates became the launch customer for the −600HGW when it ordered 18 at the 2003 Paris Air Show
; but postponed their order indefinitely and later cancelled. Rival Qatar Airways
, which placed its order at the same airshow, took delivery of only four aircraft with the first aircraft on 11 September 2006.
It has since let its purchase options expire.
Data through end of September 2011. Updated on 6 October 2011.
The A340 has never been part of a fatal incident, there have been five hull-losses:
Sources: Airbus for −200 for −300 for −500 for −600.
Jet airliner
A jet airliner is an airliner that is powered by jet engines. This term is sometimes contracted to jetliner or jet.In contrast to today's relatively fuel-efficient, turbofan-powered air travel, first generation jet airliner travel was noisy and fuel inefficient...
. Developed by Airbus Industrie,A consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS
EADS
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. is a global pan-European aerospace and defence corporation and a leading defence and military contractor worldwide...
and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. a consortium
Consortium
A consortium is an association of two or more individuals, companies, organizations or governments with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources for achieving a common goal....
of European aerospace companies, which is now fully owned by EADS
EADS
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. is a global pan-European aerospace and defence corporation and a leading defence and military contractor worldwide...
, the A340 was assembled at Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, France. It seats up to 375 passengers in the standard variants and 440 in the stretched −600 series. Depending on the model, it has a range of between 6700 to 9000 nmi (12,408.4 to 16,668 km). It is similar in design to the twin-engined A330
Airbus A330
The Airbus A330 is a wide-body twin-engine jet airliner made by Airbus, a division of EADS. Versions of the A330 have a range of and can accommodate up to 335 passengers in a two-class layout or carry of cargo....
with which it was concurrently designed. Its distinguishing features are four high-bypass turbofan engines and three-bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
main landing gear
Landing Gear
Landing Gear is Devin the Dude's fifth studio album. It was released on October 7, 2008. It was his first studio album since signing with the label Razor & Tie. It features a high-profile guest appearance from Snoop Dogg. As of October 30, 2008, the album has sold 18,906 copies.-Track...
.
Airbus manufactured the A340 in four fuselage lengths. The initial variant, A340-300, which entered service in 1993, measured 59.39 metres (194.8 ft). The shorter −200 was developed next, and the A340-600 was a 15.91 metres (52.2 ft) stretch of the −200. The -600 was developed alongside the shorter A340-500, which would become the longest-ranged commercial airliner until the arrival of the Boeing 777-200LR
Boeing 777
The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from , depending on model...
. The two initial models were powered by the CFM56-5C
CFM International CFM56
The CFM International CFM56 series is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by CFM International , with a thrust range of . CFMI is a 50–50 joint-owned company of SNECMA, France and GE Aviation , USA. Both companies are responsible for producing components and each has its own...
, rated at 151 kilonewtons (33,946.2 lbf), while Rolls-Royce held exclusive powerplant
PowerPlant
PowerPlant is an object-oriented GUI toolkit, application framework and set of class libraries for Mac OS, created by Metrowerks. The framework was fairly popular at the height of the Classic Mac OS era, and was primarily used with CodeWarrior...
rights to the extended-ranged and heavier −500 and −600 models, through the 267 kilonewtons (60,024 lbf) Rolls-Royce Trent 500
Rolls-Royce Trent 500
|-See also:-External links:*...
. Initial A340 versions share the fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
and wing
Wing
A wing is an appendage with a surface that produces lift for flight or propulsion through the atmosphere, or through another gaseous or liquid fluid...
of the A330 while the −500/-600 models are longer and have larger wings.
Launch customers Lufthansa
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating...
and Air France
Air France
Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
placed the A340 into service in March 1993. As of September 2011, 379 orders had been placed (not including private operators), of which 375 were delivered. The most common type were the A340-300 model, with 218 aircraft delivered. Lufthansa is the biggest operator of the A340, having acquired 59 aircraft. The A340 is used on long-haul, trans-oceanic routes due to its immunity from ETOPS; however, with reliability in engines improving, airlines are progressively phasing out the type in favour of more economical twinjet
Twinjet
A twinjet or twin jet is a jet aircraft powered by two engines. Such configuration of an aircraft is the most popular today for commercial airliners, for fighters, and many other kinds, because while offering safety from a single engine failure, it is also acceptably fuel-efficient.-Aircraft...
s such as the .
Airbus announced on November 10, 2011, that the A340 program had been terminated due to lack of new orders.
Background
When Airbus designed the Airbus A300Airbus A300
The Airbus A300 is a short- to medium-range widebody jet airliner. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin-engined widebody, it was the first product of Airbus Industrie, a consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS...
during the 1970s, it envisioned a broad family of airliners to compete against Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
and Douglas
Douglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
, two established US aerospace manufacturers. From the moment of formation, Airbus had begun studies into derivatives of the Airbus A300B in support of this long-term goal. Prior to the service introduction of the first Airbus airliners, Airbus had identified nine possible variations of the A300 known as A300B1 to B9. A 10th variation, conceived in 1973, later the first to be constructed, was designated the A300B10. It was a smaller aircraft that would be developed into the long-range Airbus A310
Airbus A310
The Airbus A310 is a medium- to long-range twin-engine widebody jet airliner. Launched in July 1978, it was the second aircraft created by Airbus Industrie,a consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. the consortium of...
. Airbus then focused its efforts on the single-aisle market, which resulted in the Airbus A320 family
Airbus A320 family
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
, which was the first digital fly-by-wire
Fly-by-wire
Fly-by-wire is a system that replaces the conventional manual flight controls of an aircraft with an electronic interface. The movements of flight controls are converted to electronic signals transmitted by wires , and flight control computers determine how to move the actuators at each control...
commercial aircraft. The decision to work on the A320, instead of a four-engine aircraft proposed by the Germans, created divisions within Airbus. As the SA or "single aisle" studies (which later became the successful Airbus A320) underwent development to challenge the successful Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
and Douglas DC-9 in the single-aisle, narrow-body airliner
Narrow-body aircraft
A narrow-body aircraft is an airliner with a fuselage aircraft cabin width typically of 3 to 4 metres , and airline seat arranged 2 to 6 abreast along a single aisle...
market, Airbus turned its focus back to the wide-body aircraft
Wide-body aircraft
A wide-body aircraft is a large airliner with two passenger aisles, also known as a widebody aircraft or twin-aisle aircraft. The typical fuselage diameter is . In the typical wide-body economy cabin, passengers are seated seven to ten abreast, allowing a total capacity of 200 to 850 passengers...
market.
The A300B11, a derivative of the A310, was designed upon the availability of "ten ton" engines. It would seat between 180 to 200 passengers, and have a range of 6000 nautical miles (11,112 km). It was deemed the replacement for the less-efficient Boeing 707
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
s and Douglas DC-8
Douglas DC-8
The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
s still in service.
The A300B11 was joined by another design, the A300B9, which was a larger derivative of the A300. The B9 was developed by Airbus from the early 1970s at a slow pace until the early 1980s. It was essentially a stretched A300 with the same wing, coupled with the most powerful turbofan engine at the time. It was targeted at the growing demand for high-capacity, medium-range, transcontinental trunk routes. The B9 would offer the same range
Range (aircraft)
The maximal total range is the distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing, as limited by fuel capacity in powered aircraft, or cross-country speed and environmental conditions in unpowered aircraft....
and payload as the McDonnell Douglas DC-10
McDonnell Douglas DC-10
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a three-engine widebody jet airliner manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. The DC-10 has range for medium- to long-haul flights, capable of carrying a maximum 380 passengers. Its most distinguishing feature is the two turbofan engines mounted on underwing pylons and a...
, but would use between 25% to 38% less fuel. The B9 was therefore considered the replacement for the DC-10 and the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar. To differentiate the programme from the SA studies, the B9 and B11 were redesignated the TA9 and TA11 (TA standing for "twin aisle"), respectively. In an effort to save development costs, it was decided that the two would share the same wing
Wing
A wing is an appendage with a surface that produces lift for flight or propulsion through the atmosphere, or through another gaseous or liquid fluid...
and airframe
Airframe
The airframe of an aircraft is its mechanical structure. It is typically considered to include fuselage, wings and undercarriage and exclude the propulsion system...
; the projected savings were estimated at US$500 million (about £490 million or €495 million). The adoption of a common wing structure also had one technical advantage: the TA11's outboard engines could counteract the weight of the longer-range model by providing bending relief. Another factor was the split preference of those within Airbus and, more importantly, prospective airliner customers. Airbus vice president for strategic planning, Adam Brown, recalled,
North American operators were clearly in favor of a twin[jet], while Asians wanted a quad[jet]. In Europe, opinion was split between the two. The majority of potential customers were in favor of a quad despite the fact, in certain conditions, it is more costly to operate than a twin. They liked that it could be ferried with one engine out, and could fly 'anywhere'— ETOPS (extend-range twin-engine operations) hadn't begun then.
Design effort
The first specifications of the TA9 and TA11 were released in 1982. While the TA9 had a range of 3300 nautical miles (6,111.6 km), the TA11 range was up to 6830 nautical miles (12,649.2 km). At the same time, Airbus also sketched the TA12, a twin-engine derivative of the TA11, which was optimised for flights of a 2000 nautical miles (3,704 km) lesser range.By the time of the Paris Air Show
Paris Air Show
The Paris Air Show is the world's oldest and largest air show. Established in 1909, it is currently held every odd year at Le Bourget Airport in north Paris, France...
in June 1985, more refinements had been made to the TA9 and TA11, including the adoption of the A320 flight deck
Cockpit
A cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. Most modern cockpits are enclosed, except on some small aircraft, and cockpits on large airliners are also physically separated from the cabin...
, fly-by-wire
Fly-by-wire
Fly-by-wire is a system that replaces the conventional manual flight controls of an aircraft with an electronic interface. The movements of flight controls are converted to electronic signals transmitted by wires , and flight control computers determine how to move the actuators at each control...
(FBW) flight control system and side-stick
Side-stick
A side-stick or sidestick controller is an aircraft control column that is located on the side console of the pilot, usually on the righthand side, or outboard on a two-seat flightdeck...
control. The adoption of a common cockpit design across the new Airbus series allowed operators to make significant cost savings; flight crews would be able to transition from one to another after one week of training. The TA11 and TA12 would use the front and rear fuselage sections of the A310. Components across the aircraft were modular, and interchangeable with other Airbus aircraft where possible. Airbus briefly considered a variable camber wing
Variable camber wing
Variable camber wing is a design of aircraft wing by Vincent Burnelli that changes the camber of the airfoil , and varies the area and camber of the wing .A mechanism moves and rotates the leading and trailing edge to gain camber and wing area....
; the concept was that the wing could change its profile to produce the optimum shape for a given phase of flight. Studies were carried out by British Aerospace
British Aerospace
British Aerospace plc was a UK aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer. Its head office was in the Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire...
(BAe) at Hatfield
Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Hatfield is a town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England in the borough of Welwyn Hatfield. It has a population of 29,616, and is of Saxon origin. Hatfield House, the home of the Marquess of Salisbury, is the nucleus of the old town...
and Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. Airbus estimated this would yield a 2% improvement in aerodynamic efficiency. However, the plan was later abandoned on grounds of cost and difficulty of development.
McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It formed from a merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft in 1967. McDonnell Douglas was based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport...
about teaming up to produce the planned AM 300. This aeroplane would have combined the wing of the A330 with the fuselage of the McDonnell Douglas MD-11
McDonnell Douglas MD-11
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is a three-engine medium- to long-range widebody jet airliner, manufactured by McDonnell Douglas and, later, by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Based on the DC-10, it features a stretched fuselage, increased wingspan with winglets, refined airfoils on the wing and smaller...
. However, talks terminated as McDonnell insisted on the continuation of its trijet
Trijet
A Trijet is an aircraft powered by three jet engines. Early twin-jet designs were limited by the FAA's "60-minute rule", whereby the flight path of twin-engined jetliners was restricted to within 60 minutes' flying time from a suitable airport, in case of engine failure. In 1964 this rule was...
heritage. Eventually, McDonnell Douglas would merge with Boeing, contributed by the commercial failure of its MD-11 design, which competed directly with the A340.
From the start, it was intended that the A340 would be powered by four CFM56-5
CFM International CFM56
The CFM International CFM56 series is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by CFM International , with a thrust range of . CFMI is a 50–50 joint-owned company of SNECMA, France and GE Aviation , USA. Both companies are responsible for producing components and each has its own...
turbofan engines, capable of 25000 pound-forces (111.2 kN). Airbus also considered a trijet due to the limited power of engines available at the time, namely the Rolls-Royce RB211-535
Rolls-Royce RB211
The Rolls-Royce RB211 is a family of high-bypass turbofan engines made by Rolls-Royce plc and capable of generating 37,400 to 60,600 pounds-force thrust. Originally developed for the Lockheed L-1011 , it entered service in 1972 and was the only engine to power this aircraft type...
and Pratt & Whitney JT10D-232.
On 27 January 1986, the Airbus Industrie Supervisory Board held a meeting in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, after which board-chairman Franz Josef Strauß
Franz Josef Strauß
Franz Josef Strauss was a German politician. He was the leader of the Christian Social Union, member of the federal cabinet in different positions and long-time minister-president of the state of Bavaria....
released a statement, "Airbus Industrie is now in a position to finalise the detailed technical definition of the TA9, which is now officially designated the A330, and the TA11, now called the A340, with potential launch customer airlines, and to discuss with them the terms and conditions for launch commitments". The designations were originally reversed because the airlines believed it illogical for a two-engine
Twinjet
A twinjet or twin jet is a jet aircraft powered by two engines. Such configuration of an aircraft is the most popular today for commercial airliners, for fighters, and many other kinds, because while offering safety from a single engine failure, it is also acceptably fuel-efficient.-Aircraft...
jet airliner to have a "4" in its name, whilst a quad-jet would not.
On 12 May, Airbus sent new sale proposals to five prospective airlines including Lufthansa
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating...
and Swissair
Swissair
Swissair AG was the former national airline of Switzerland.It was formed from a merger between Balair and Ad Astra Aero , in 1931...
.
Production and testing
In preparations for production of the A330/A340, Airbus's partners invested heavily in new facilities. FiltonFilton
Filton is a town in South Gloucestershire, England, situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Bristol, about from the city centre. Filton lies in Bristol postcode areas BS7 and BS34. The town centres upon Filton Church, which dates back to the 12th century and is a grade II listed building...
was the site of BAe's £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
7 million investment in a three-storey technical centre with an extra 15000 square metres (161,458.7 sq ft) of floor area. BAe also spent £5 million expanding the Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
wing production plant by 14000 m² (150,694.7 sq ft) to accommodate a new production line. However, France saw the biggest changes with Aérospatiale
Aérospatiale
Aérospatiale was a French aerospace manufacturer that built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites. It was originally known as Société Nationale Industrielle Aérospatiale...
starting construction of a new Fr.
French franc
The franc was a currency of France. Along with the Spanish peseta, it was also a de facto currency used in Andorra . Between 1360 and 1641, it was the name of coins worth 1 livre tournois and it remained in common parlance as a term for this amount of money...
2.5 billion ($411 million) assembly plant, adjacent to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, in Colomiers
Colomiers
Colomiers is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.It is the largest suburb of the city of Toulouse, and is adjacent to it on the west side...
. By November 1988, the first 21 m (68.9 ft) pillars were erected for the new Clément Ader
Clément Ader
Clément Ader was a French inventor and engineer born in Muret, Haute Garonne, and is remembered primarily for his pioneering work in aviation.- The inventor :...
assembly hall. The assembly process, meanwhile, would feature increased automation with holes for the wing-fuselage mating process drilled by eight robots. The use of automation for this particular process saved Airbus 20% on labour costs and 5% on time.
British Aerospace accepted £450 million funding from the UK government, although it was well short of the £750 million originally requested. Funds from the French and German governments followed thereafter. Airbus also issued subcontracts to companies in Austria, Australia, Canada, China, Greece, Italy, India, Japan, South Korea, Portugal, the United States of America, and the former Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. The A330 and A340 programmes were jointly launched on 5 June 1987, just prior to the Paris Air Show. The order book then stood at 130 aircraft from 10 customers, apart from the above-mentioned Lufthansa and International Lease Finance Corporation
International Lease Finance Corporation
The International Lease Finance Corporation is an aircraft lessor headquartered in Century City, Los Angeles, California.It is the world's largest aircraft lessor by value, though ILFC's rival, General Electric's GECAS unit, has more aircraft...
(ILFC). Eighty-nine of the total orders were A340 models. Over at McDonnell Douglas, ongoing tests of the MD-11 revealed a significant shortfall in the aircraft's performance. An important prospective carrier, Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets...
(SIA), required a fully laden aircraft that could fly from Singapore to Paris, against strong headwinds during mid-winter in the northern hemisphere. The MD-11, according to test results, would experience fuel starvation
Fuel Starvation
Fuel starvation and fuel exhaustion are problems that can affect internal combustion engines fuelled by either diesel, kerosene, petroleum or any other combustible liquid or gas. If no fuel is available for an engine to burn, it cannot function...
over the Balkans. Due to the less-than-expected performance figures, SIA cancelled its 20-aircraft MD-11 order on 2 August 1991, and ordered 20 A340-300s instead.
The first flight
Maiden flight
The maiden flight of an aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord. This is similar to a ship's maiden voyage....
of the A340 occurred on 21 October 1991, marking the start of a 2,000-hour test flight programme involving six aircraft. From the start, engineers noticed that the wings were not strong enough to carry the outboard engines at cruising speed without warping
Wing warping
Wing warping was an early system for lateral control of a fixed-wing aircraft. The technique, used and patented by the Wright brothers, consisted of a system of pulleys and cables to twist the trailing edges of the wings in opposite directions...
and fluttering. To alleviate this, an underwing bulge called a plastron was developed to correct airflow problems around the engine pylons
Podded engine
A podded engine is a jet engine in a pod, typically attached below the wing or to the tail of the aircraft. The pod itself is called a nacelle....
and to add stiffness. European JAA certification was obtained on 22 December 1992; FAA followed on 27 May 1993.
Entry into service and demonstration
Airbus delivered the first A340, a −200, to Lufthansa on 2 February 1993. The 228-seat A340-200, named, Nürnberg, entered service on 15 March. The A340s were intended to replace aging DC-10s on the airline's Frankfurt–New York services. Meanwhile, Air France took its first A340-300 on 26 February, the first of nine it planned to operate by the end of the year. The A340 replaced the Boeing 747s on Paris–Washington D.C., flying four times weekly. Coincidentally, the first Air France A340 was the 1000th Airbus to leave the Toulouse facility since the consortium's beginning.During the Paris Air Show, on 16 June 1993, an A340-200, named The World Ranger took off for a round-the-world demonstration and publicity-stunt flight. The aircraft, carrying 22 persons, had been modified for the flight, including the addition of five center tanks. Taking off at 11:58 local time, The World Ranger made only one stop en route in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, arriving back in Paris 48 hours and 22 minutes later, at 12:20. The flight broke six world records at the time. Among the six was the longest non-stop flight
Non-stop flight
A non-stop flight, especially in the aviation industry, refers to any flight by an aircraft which does not involve any intermediate stops. A "direct flight" is not the same as a "non-stop flight"...
by an airliner, when the aircraft flew 19277 kilometres (10,408.7 nmi) from Paris, arriving in Auckland in record time, keeping the record until 2005.
Further developments
During the 1990s, when airlines were looking for replacement aircraft for their 1970-era Boeing 747-100s and -200s, Airbus investigated a stretched airframe in the form of the A340-400X. This proved unpopular, as the CFM56 engines were at the limits of their growth capability and the range would have decreased to around 10000 km (5,399.6 nmi). When this plan was discarded, a larger wing and engine combination was decided upon. Initially, Pratt & WhitneyPratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
proposed an engine, but contract issues led Airbus to proceed with the Rolls Royce Trents in 1997. Airbus announced in April 1996 that it would offer a stretched variant, the A340-600.
During the early 21st Century, sales for the A340 began to slow. On 10 November 2011, Airbus announced the end of the A340 program. At that time it indicated that all firm orders had been delivered.
Operational history
The A340-200 entered service in 1993 with launch customer Lufthansa, followed shortly thereafter by the −300 of Air France and the A330. Lufthansa's first A340, dubbed Nürnberg (D-AIBA), began revenue service on 15 March 1993. With the introduction of higher gross weight Boeing 777Boeing 777
The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from , depending on model...
s, such as the -200ER and specifically -300ER, sales of the A340 began to decline. Over the last few years the 777 has outsold the A340 by a wide margin. Although the larger GE90 engines on the 777-300ER burn considerably more fuel than the Trent 500s, using only two of them compared to four Trents has meant a typical operating cost advantage of around 8–9%.
Airbus announced plans in January 2006 to develop the A340E (Enhanced). Airbus projected that it would be more fuel-efficient
Fuel efficiency
Fuel efficiency is a form of thermal efficiency, meaning the efficiency of a process that converts chemical potential energy contained in a carrier fuel into kinetic energy or work. Overall fuel efficiency may vary per device, which in turn may vary per application, and this spectrum of variance is...
than earlier A340s and close the 8–9% disparity with the Boeing 777 by using Trent 1500 engines. At that time Airbus predicted that it would probably produce 127 A340 units through 2016, at which time production was projected to end.
In mid-2008, jet fuel prices
Price of petroleum
The price of petroleum as quoted in news generally refers to the spot price per barrel of either WTI/light crude as traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange for delivery at Cushing, Oklahoma, or of Brent as traded on the Intercontinental Exchange for delivery at Sullom Voe.The price...
doubled compared to the year before; consequently, the A340's fuel consumption led airlines to reduce flight stages exceeding 15 hours. Thai Airways International
Thai Airways International
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited is the national flag carrier and largest airline of Thailand. Formed in 1988, the airline's headquarters are located in Chatuchak District, Bangkok, and operates out of Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thai is a founding member of the Star Alliance. Thai is a...
cancelled its 17-hour, nonstop Bangkok–New York/JFK route on 1 July 2008, and placed its four A340-500s for sale. While short flights stress aircraft more than long flights and result in more frequent fuel-thirsty take-offs and landings, ultra-long flights require completely full fuel tanks. Thus en route, the plane is burning extra just to carry fuel, a "flying tanker with a few people on board," Air France-KLM
Air France-KLM
Air France-KLM is a European airline holding company incorporated under French law with its headquarters at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport in Tremblay-en-France, Paris...
SA's chief executive Pierre-Henri Gourgeon told the Wall Street Journal.
While Thai Airways has consistently filled 80% of the seats on its New York City–Bangkok flights, it estimates that, at 2008 fuel prices, it would need an impossible 120% of seats filled just to break even. Other airlines are re-examining long-haul flights. In August 2008 Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is the flag carrier of Hong Kong, with its head office and main hub located at Hong Kong International Airport, although the airline's registered office is on the 33rd floor of One Pacific Place...
stated that rising fuel prices
Price of petroleum
The price of petroleum as quoted in news generally refers to the spot price per barrel of either WTI/light crude as traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange for delivery at Cushing, Oklahoma, or of Brent as traded on the Intercontinental Exchange for delivery at Sullom Voe.The price...
were hurting its trans-Pacific long-haul routes disproportionately, and that it would cut the number of such flights and redeploy its aircraft to shorter routes such as between Hong Kong and Australia. "We will...reshap[e] our network where necessary to ensure we fly aircraft to where we can cover our costs and also make some money."
Variants
| ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization The International Civil Aviation Organization , pronounced , , is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth... code |
Model(s) |
|---|---|
| A342 | A340-200 |
| A343 | A340-300 |
| A345 | A340-500 |
| A346 | A340-600 |
There are four variants of the A340. The A340-200 and A340-300 were launched in 1987 with introduction into service in March 1993 for the −200. The A340-500 and A340-600 were launched in 1997 with introduction into service in 2002. All variants were available in a corporate version from Airbus Executive and Private Aviation
Airbus Executive and Private Aviation
Airbus Executive and Private Aviation is a producer of large corporate aircraft. It is a part of Airbus S.A.S., an EADS company, and had a model range that parallels the commercial aircraft offered by the company, ranging from the A318 Elite to the double/triple-decked Airbus A380 Prestige...
.
A340-200
One of two initial versions of the A340, the A340-200, with 261 passengers in a three-class cabin layout has a rangeRange (aircraft)
The maximal total range is the distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing, as limited by fuel capacity in powered aircraft, or cross-country speed and environmental conditions in unpowered aircraft....
of 7450 nautical miles (13,797.4 km), or with 240 passengers also in a three-class cabin layout has a range of 8000 nautical miles (14,816 km). This is the shortest version of the family and the only version with wingspan measuring greater than the length of the fuselage. It is powered by four CFMI CFM56-5C4
CFM International CFM56
The CFM International CFM56 series is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by CFM International , with a thrust range of . CFMI is a 50–50 joint-owned company of SNECMA, France and GE Aviation , USA. Both companies are responsible for producing components and each has its own...
engines and uses the Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
331–350[A] APU
Auxiliary power unit
An auxiliary power unit is a device on a vehicle that provides energy for functions other than propulsion. They are commonly found on large aircraft, as well as some large land vehicles.-Function:...
. The plane was intended to open long and thin routes, especially over water. The closest Boeing competitor for this aircraft is the Boeing 767-400ER.
One version of this type (referred to by Airbus as the A340-8000) was ordered by the Sultan of Brunei requesting a non-stop range of 8000 nautical miles (14,816 km). This A340-8000 had an increased fuel capacity, an MTOW
Maximum Take-Off Weight
The Maximum Takeoff Weight or Maximum Takeoff Mass of an aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot of the aircraft is allowed to attempt to take off, due to structural or other limits. The analogous term for rockets is Gross Lift-Off Mass, or GLOW...
of 275 tonnes (606,271.2 lb), similar to the A340-300, and minor reinforcements to the undercarriage
Undercarriage
The undercarriage or landing gear in aviation, is the structure that supports an aircraft on the ground and allows it to taxi, takeoff and land...
. Upon completion its final range was specified at 8100 nautical miles (15,001.2 km). It is powered by the 34000 pound-forces (151.2 kN) thrust CFM56-5C4s
CFM International CFM56
The CFM International CFM56 series is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by CFM International , with a thrust range of . CFMI is a 50–50 joint-owned company of SNECMA, France and GE Aviation , USA. Both companies are responsible for producing components and each has its own...
similar to the −300E. Only one A340-8000 was produced by Airbus – A340-213X (msn 204). It was delivered to Brunei-based HM the Sultan's Flight in November 1998, but never entered service and was parked unfitted at Lufthansa Technik
Lufthansa Technik
Lufthansa Technik AG is the leading manufacturer-independent provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul services for aircraft, engines and components. The Lufthansa Technik Group consists of 32 companies with more than 25.500 employees...
in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
. The aircraft was later acquired in by Saudi Arabian VIP in February 2007 as it updated its widebody fleet, according to Flight's ACAS database. Besides the −8000, some A340-200s are used for VIP
VIP
VIP and V.I.P. is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:-In general:* Vacuum insulated panel* Values, Influence, and Peers, an anti-crime campaign in Ontario elementary schools* Variable Information Printing, a form of on-demand printing...
or military use. Examples of these users are Royal Brunei Airlines, Qatar Amiri Flight
Qatar Amiri Flight
Qatar Amiri Flight is a VIP airline owned and operated by the government of Qatar. It operates worldwide charters on demand and caters exclusively to the royal family of Qatar and other VIP government staff. The vast majority of its fleet is painted in the standard livery of the commercial flag...
, Arab Republic of Egypt Government
Politics of Egypt
The government of Egypt, as of February 27, 2011, is a republic currently under military rule of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces after the President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak stepped down following several days of mass protests. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the...
, Saudi Arabia Air Force
Royal Saudi Air Force
The Royal Saudi Air Force , is the aviation branch of the Saudi Arabian armed forces. The RSAF has developed from a largely defensive military force into one with an advanced offensive capability...
, The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the French Air Force
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
. Other historical operators include Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is the flag carrier of Hong Kong, with its head office and main hub located at Hong Kong International Airport, although the airline's registered office is on the 33rd floor of One Pacific Place...
, Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines, Inc. operating as Philippine Airlines, is a flag carrier of the Philippines. Headquartered in the Philippine National Bank Financial Center in Pasay City, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the first and oldest commercial airline in Asia operating under its original name...
and Air Bourbon
Air Bourbon
Air Bourbon was a short-lived airline headquartered at Roland Garros Airport in Sainte Marie, Réunion.- History :The airline was created in November 2002 and started scheduled services to mainland France on 7 June 2003...
.
Following the specially designed −8000, other A340-200s were later given performance improvement packages (PIPs) that helped them achieve similar gains in capability as to the A340-8000. Those aircraft are labeled A340-213X. The range for this version is 8000 nautical miles (14,816 km).
Due to its large wingspan, four engines, low capacity, and improvements to the A340-300, the −200 proved heavy and unpopular with mainstream airlines. Only 28 A340-200s were produced with several now in VIP service. South African Airways
South African Airways
South African Airways is the national flag carrier and largest airline of South Africa, with headquarters in Airways Park on the grounds of OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. The airline flies to 36 destinations worldwide from its hub at OR Tambo International...
is the largest operator with six aircraft. Other current operators include Aerolíneas Argentinas
Aerolíneas Argentinas
Aerolíneas Argentinas , formally Aerolíneas Argentinas S.A., is Argentina's largest airline and serves as the country's flag carrier. Owned in its majority by the Argentine Government, the airline is headquartered in the Torre Bouchard, located in San Nicolás, Buenos Aires...
(4), Royal Jordanian
Royal Jordanian
Royal Jordanian Airlines is the flag carrier of Jordan with its head office in Amman, Jordan, operating scheduled international services over four continents from its main base at Queen Alia International Airport at Amman Jordan. Royal Jordanian is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization...
(5), Egypt Air (3) and Conviasa
Conviasa
Conviasa is an airline with its headquarters on the grounds of Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, near Caracas. It operates services to domestic destinations and to destinations in the Caribbean and South America...
(1).
A340-300
CFM International CFM56
The CFM International CFM56 series is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by CFM International , with a thrust range of . CFMI is a 50–50 joint-owned company of SNECMA, France and GE Aviation , USA. Both companies are responsible for producing components and each has its own...
engines and uses the Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
331–350[A] APU, similar to the −200. Its closest competitor is the Boeing 777-200ER
Boeing 777
The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from , depending on model...
. The A340-300 will be superseded by the A350-900.
A340-300E
The A340-300E, often mislabelled as A340-300X, has an increased MTOW of up to 275 tonnes (606,271.2 lb) and is powered by the more powerful 34000 lbf (151.2 kN) thrust CFMI CFM56-5C4CFM International CFM56
The CFM International CFM56 series is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by CFM International , with a thrust range of . CFMI is a 50–50 joint-owned company of SNECMA, France and GE Aviation , USA. Both companies are responsible for producing components and each has its own...
engines. Typical range with 295 passengers is between 7200 to 7400 nmi (13,334.4 to 13,704.8 km). The largest operator of this type is Lufthansa
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating...
with 30 aircraft. It was first delivered to Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets...
in April 1996, though Singapore Airlines no longer operates this model. Two A340-300 were acquired by the Flugbereitschaft of the German Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
to serve as VIP transports for the leaders of the German government
Politics of Germany
The Federal Republic of Germany is a federal parliamentary republic, based on representative democracy. The Chancellor is the head of government, while the President of Germany is the head of state, which is a ceremonial role but with substantial reserve powers.Executive power is vested in the...
and the German President. Service entry will be 2011.
A340-300 Enhanced
The A340-300 Enhanced is the latest version of this type and was first delivered to South African AirwaysSouth African Airways
South African Airways is the national flag carrier and largest airline of South Africa, with headquarters in Airways Park on the grounds of OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. The airline flies to 36 destinations worldwide from its hub at OR Tambo International...
in 2003. It received newer CFM56-5C4/P engines and improved avionics
Avionics
Avionics are electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft.Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to meet individual roles...
and fly-by-wire
Fly-by-wire
Fly-by-wire is a system that replaces the conventional manual flight controls of an aircraft with an electronic interface. The movements of flight controls are converted to electronic signals transmitted by wires , and flight control computers determine how to move the actuators at each control...
systems developed for the A340-500 and −600.
A340-500
Boeing 777
The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from , depending on model...
, in February 2006. However, the Boeing 777-200LR is subject to the ETOPS restrictions.
Due to its range, the -500 is capable of travelling non-stop from London to Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, though a return flight requires a fuel stop due to headwinds. Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets...
, for example, initially used this model in a two-class, 181-passenger layout for its Newark
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
–Singapore
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about north-east from the commercial centre in Changi, on a site....
nonstop route
Non-stop flight
A non-stop flight, especially in the aviation industry, refers to any flight by an aircraft which does not involve any intermediate stops. A "direct flight" is not the same as a "non-stop flight"...
, SQ 21
Singapore Airlines Flight 21
Singapore Airlines Flight 21 is the longest regular scheduled non-stop flight in the world. It flies from Newark Liberty International Airport to Singapore Changi Airport, covering about miles still air distance in about 18.5 hours flight time. It is operated by an Airbus A340-500...
: an 18-hour, 45-minute "westbound" (really northbound to 70 nautical miles (129.6 km) abeam the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
; then south from there across Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
and People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
), 18-hour, 30-minute eastbound, 8285 nautical miles (15,343.8 km) journey that remains the longest scheduled non-stop commercial flight
Non-stop flight
A non-stop flight, especially in the aviation industry, refers to any flight by an aircraft which does not involve any intermediate stops. A "direct flight" is not the same as a "non-stop flight"...
in the world.
Compared with the A340-300, the -500 features a 4.3 metres (14.1 ft) fuselage stretch, an enlarged wing area, significant increase in fuel capacity (around 50% over the -300), slightly higher cruising speed, larger horizontal stabilizer and smaller vertical tailplane
Empennage
The empennage , also known as the tail or tail assembly, of most aircraft gives stability to the aircraft, in a similar way to the feathers on an arrow...
. The A340-500 and −600 has taxi cameras to help the pilots during ground maneuvers. The A340-500 is powered by four 53000 lbf (235.8 kN) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 553
Rolls-Royce Trent
Rolls-Royce Trent is the name given to a family of high bypass turbofan aircraft engines manufactured by Rolls-Royce plc. All are developments of the RB211 with thrust ratings of . Versions of the Trent are in service on the Airbus A330, A340, A380, Boeing 777, and 787, and variants are in...
turbofans and uses the Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
331–600[A] APU. Emirates is the largest operator, with ten aircraft.
A340-500HGW
The A340-500HGW (High Gross Weight) version has a range of 9000 nautical miles (16,668 km) and a MTOW of 380 tonnes (837,756.6 lb) and first flew on 13 October 2006. It uses the strengthened structure and enlarged fuel capacity of the A340-600HGW. The certification aircraft became the first delivery, to Thai Airways InternationalThai Airways International
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited is the national flag carrier and largest airline of Thailand. Formed in 1988, the airline's headquarters are located in Chatuchak District, Bangkok, and operates out of Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thai is a founding member of the Star Alliance. Thai is a...
, on 11 April 2007. Kingfisher Airlines
Kingfisher Airlines
Kingfisher Airlines is an airline group based in India. Its head office is Kingfisher House in Vile Parle , Mumbai. Kingfisher Airlines, through its parent company United Breweries Group, has a 50% stake in low-cost carrier Kingfisher Red....
had planned to use this model to operate nonstop flights from India to North America. However, in October 2008, Kingfisher transferred three of its five delivery positions to Arik Air
Arik Air
Arik Air is a Nigerian airline operating a domestic, regional and international flight network. It is also the national carrier of Sierra Leone. It operates mainly from two hubs at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja...
of Nigeria, due to the worldwide recession. Arik Air
Arik Air
Arik Air is a Nigerian airline operating a domestic, regional and international flight network. It is also the national carrier of Sierra Leone. It operates mainly from two hubs at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja...
received these three A340-500s in November 2008, and placed them in service on its new Lagos–London Heathrow route and Lagos-Johannesburg route, with a nonstop route to New York added in January 2010. The A340-500HGW is powered by four 56000 lbf (249.1 kN) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 556
Rolls-Royce Trent
Rolls-Royce Trent is the name given to a family of high bypass turbofan aircraft engines manufactured by Rolls-Royce plc. All are developments of the RB211 with thrust ratings of . Versions of the Trent are in service on the Airbus A330, A340, A380, Boeing 777, and 787, and variants are in...
turbofans.
A340-600
Designed as an early-generation Boeing 747Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
replacement, the A340-600 is capable of carrying 379 passengers in a three-class cabin layout 7500 nautical miles (13,890 km). It provides similar passenger capacity to a 747 but with 25 percent more cargo volume, and at lower trip and seat costs. First flight of the A340-600 was made on 23 April 2001. Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic Airways
Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited is a British airline owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Singapore Airlines...
began commercial services in August 2002. The most direct Boeing equivalent to the A340-600 is the 777-300ER
Boeing 777
The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from , depending on model...
.The A340-600 will eventually be replaced by the A350-1000, which will also compete with the 777-300ER.
The A340-600 is 12 metre longer than a basic −300, more than four metres longer than the Boeing 747-400
Boeing 747-400
The Boeing 747-400 is a major development and the best-selling model of the Boeing 747 family of jet airliners. While retaining the four-engine wide-body layout of its predecessors, the 747-400 embodies numerous technological and structural changes to produce a more efficient airframe...
and 2.3 metre longer than the A380
Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...
. It held the record for being the world's longest commercial aircraft until February 2010 with the first flight of the Boeing 747-8
Boeing 747-8
The Boeing 747-8 is a wide-body jet airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Officially announced in 2005, the 747-8 is the fourth-generation Boeing 747 version, with lengthened fuselage, redesigned wings and improved efficiency...
. The A340-600 is powered by four 56000 lbf (249.1 kN) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 556
Rolls-Royce Trent 500
|-See also:-External links:*...
turbofan
Turbofan
The turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
s and uses the Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
331–600[A] APU
Auxiliary power unit
An auxiliary power unit is a device on a vehicle that provides energy for functions other than propulsion. They are commonly found on large aircraft, as well as some large land vehicles.-Function:...
. It also has an additional four-wheel undercarriage
Undercarriage
The undercarriage or landing gear in aviation, is the structure that supports an aircraft on the ground and allows it to taxi, takeoff and land...
on the fuselage centre-line to cope with the increased MTOW. Airbus has made provisions for freeing additional upper deck main cabin
Aircraft cabin
An aircraft cabin is the section of an aircraft in which passengers travel. At cruising altitudes of modern commercial aircraft the surrounding atmosphere is too thin to breathe without an oxygen mask, so cabins are pressurized at a higher pressure than ambient pressure at altitude.In commercial...
space by providing optional arrangements for additional facilities such as crew rest areas, galleys
Galley (kitchen)
The galley is the compartment of a ship, train or aircraft where food is cooked and prepared. It can also refer to a land based kitchen on a naval base or a particular formed household kitchen.-Ship's kitchen:...
, and lavatories upon the "stretched" A340 aircraft's lower deck.
In April 2007, The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
reported that Airbus had advised carriers to reduce cargo in the forward section by 5 tonnes (11,023.1 lb) to compensate for overweight first and business class sections. The additional weight causes the aircraft's centre of gravity to move forward thus reducing cruise efficiency. Airlines affected by the advisory are considering demanding compensation from Airbus.
A340-600HGW
The A340-600HGW (High Gross Weight) version first flew on 18 November 2005 and was certified on 14 April 2006. It has an MTOW of 380 tonnes (837,756.6 lb) and a range of up to 7900 nautical miles (14,630.8 km), made possible by strengthened structure, increased fuel capacity, more powerful engines and new manufacturing techniques like laser beam weldingLaser beam welding
Laser beam welding is a welding technique used to join multiple pieces of metal through the use of a laser. The beam provides a concentrated heat source, allowing for narrow, deep welds and high welding rates...
. The A340-600HGW is powered by four 60000 lbf (266.9 kN) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 560
Rolls-Royce Trent
Rolls-Royce Trent is the name given to a family of high bypass turbofan aircraft engines manufactured by Rolls-Royce plc. All are developments of the RB211 with thrust ratings of . Versions of the Trent are in service on the Airbus A330, A340, A380, Boeing 777, and 787, and variants are in...
turbofans.
Emirates became the launch customer for the −600HGW when it ordered 18 at the 2003 Paris Air Show
Paris Air Show
The Paris Air Show is the world's oldest and largest air show. Established in 1909, it is currently held every odd year at Le Bourget Airport in north Paris, France...
; but postponed their order indefinitely and later cancelled. Rival Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C. , operating as Qatar Airways, is the flag carrier of Qatar. Headquartered in the Qatar Airways Tower in Doha, it operates a hub-and-spoke network, linking over 100 international destinations from its base in Doha, using a fleet of over 100 aircraft...
, which placed its order at the same airshow, took delivery of only four aircraft with the first aircraft on 11 September 2006.
It has since let its purchase options expire.
Orders and deliveries
| |Deliveries | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Total | Backlog | Total | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 |
| A340-200 | 28 | 28 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 12 | |||||||||||||
| A340-300 | 218 | 218 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 30 | 25 | 14 | 21 | 10 | |||
| A340-500 | 36 | 4 | 32 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 7 | ||||||||||
| A340-600 | 97 | 97 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 8 | ||||||||||
| Total | 379 | 4 | 375 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 33 | 16 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 33 | 28 | 19 | 25 | 22 |
Data through end of September 2011. Updated on 6 October 2011.
Accidents and incidents
- 20 January 1994 – Air FranceAir FranceAir France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
, an A340-211 was lost to fire during servicing at Charles de Gaulle Airport. - 24 July 2001 – SriLankan AirlinesSriLankan AirlinesSriLankan Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Sri Lanka. It operates to destinations in Asia and Europe from its base and hub at Bandaranaike International Airport . The airline's trademark phrase is 'You're Our World', and the company's logo features a stylized peacock...
, an A340-300 was blown up by Liberation Tigers of Tamil EelamLiberation Tigers of Tamil EelamThe Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
terrorists while on the ground at the Bandaranaike International AirportBandaranaike International AirportBandaranaike International Airport is Sri Lanka's only international airport at the moment. Mattala International Airport, when it gets built will be the second International Airport of Sri Lanka. It is located in Katunayake, north of Colombo...
. - 2 August 2005 – Air FranceAir FranceAir France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
Flight 358Air France Flight 358Air France Flight 358, a flight from Paris, France, to Toronto, Canada, using an Airbus A340 airliner, departed Paris without incident at 11:53 UTC 2 August 2005, later touching down on runway 24L-06R at Toronto Pearson International Airport at 20:01 UTC...
, all 297 passengers and 12 crew survived a crash and fire after their A340-300 over-ran runway 24L at Toronto Pearson International AirportToronto Pearson International AirportToronto Pearson International Airport is an international airport serving Toronto, Ontario, Canada; its metropolitan area; and the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration that is home to 8.1 million people – approximately 25% of Canada's population...
while landing in a thunderstormThunderstormA thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
. The aircraft slid into Etobicoke CreekEtobicoke CreekEtobicoke Creek is one of the many creeks running through Toronto, Ontario and the Toronto Area into Lake Ontario, often characterized by their winding paths through deep ravines and distinctive shale banks....
and caught fire. Forty-three were injured, twelve seriously (2 crew, 10 passengers); some passengers jumped nearly 20 ft (6 m) to the ground. - 9 November 2007 – An Iberia AirlinesIberia AirlinesIberia Líneas Aéreas de España, S.A., commonly known as Iberia, is the flag carrier airline of Spain. Based in Madrid, it operates an international network of services from its main bases of Madrid-Barajas Airport and Barcelona El Prat Airport....
A340-600 (EC-JOH) was badly damaged after sliding off the runway at Ecuador’s Mariscal Sucre International AirportMariscal Sucre International AirportMariscal Sucre International Airport is the international airport serving Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. It is named after Venezuelan born Antonio José de Sucre, known as the "Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho" , a hero of Ecuadorian and Latin American independence...
. The landing gear collapsed and two engines broke off. All 333 passengers and crew were evacuated via inflatable slides, and there were no serious injuries. The aircraft was scrapped. - 15 November 2007 – An A340-600 (F-WWCJ) was damaged beyond repair during ground testing at Airbus facilities at Toulouse Blagnac International AirportToulouse Blagnac International AirportToulouse Blagnac Airport or Aéroport de Toulouse - Blagnac is an airport located west northwest of Toulouse, just south of Blagnac, both communes of the Haute-Garonne département in the Midi-Pyrénées région of France....
. During an engine test prior to the airplane's planned delivery to Etihad AirwaysEtihad AirwaysEtihad Airways is the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates. Established in July 2003 and based at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad commenced operations in November 2003....
, the unchocked aircraft accelerated to 31 knots and collided with a sloped concrete (exhaust deflection) wall, raising the nose of the plane several metres. The cockpit section broke off and fell to the ground from a significant height. The right wing, tail, and two left engines contacted the wall or ground. Nine people on board were injured, four of them seriously, and fire services were unable to stop one undamaged engine from running on accumulated fuel for almost seven hours. The aircraft was written off. - 20 March 2009 – An A340-500 (A6-ERG) being used for Emirates Airline Flight 407 struck its tail multiple times during the takeoff roll from Melbourne AirportMelbourne AirportMelbourne Airport , also known as Tullamarine Airport, is the primary airport serving the city of Melbourne and the second busiest in Australia. It was opened in 1970 to replace the nearby Essendon Airport. Melbourne Airport is the sole international airport of the four airports serving the...
, when an incorrect flex tempFlex tempFlex temp is a technique used to reduce engine wear in large airliners by performing take-off at less than full power.For Airbus and Fokker aircraft the technique is known as flex temp or just flex...
was used, resulting in severe damage to the rear pressure bulkhead. The aircraft returned safely to the airport after dumping fuel. No serious injuries were reported among the 225 passengers. The aircraft was expected to be written off. However, as Flight EK-7608, it was flown to Airbus in Toulouse, France, for major repairs. This special, unpressurized flight was flown at 10,000 feet, lasting several days from 20 June 2009, with stops at Perth and Dubai. The repair estimate was US$80United States dollarThe United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
million (about £73 million or €75 million).
Specifications
| Model | A340-200 | A340-300 | A340-500 | A340-600 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cockpit crew | Two | |||
| Seating capacity Seating capacity Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats... |
300 (2-class, typical) 240 (3-class, typical) 375/420 (maximum) |
335 (2-class, typical) 295 (3-class, typical) 375/440 (maximum) |
359 (2-class, typical) 313 (3-class, typical) 375 (maximum) |
419 (2-class, typical) 380 (3-class, typical) 440/520 (maximum) |
| Overall length | 59.39 metre | 63.6 metre | 67.9 metre | 75.3 metre |
| Wingspan | 60.3 metre | 63.45 metre | ||
| Wing area | 361.6 square metres (432.5 sq yd) | 439.4 square metres (525.5 sq yd) | ||
| Wing sweepback | 30 degrees | 31.1 degrees | ||
| Overall height | 16.7 metre | 16.85 metre | 17.1 metre | 17.3 metre |
| Maximum cabin width | 5.28 metre | |||
| Fuselage width | 5.64 metre | |||
| Cargo capacity | 152.3 cubic metres (5,378.4 cu ft) | |||
| Operating empty weight, typical | 129000 kilograms (284,396.3 lb) | 130200 kilograms (287,041.9 lb) | 170900 kilograms (376,770 lb) HGW: 174800 kilograms (385,368 lb) |
177800 kilograms (391,981.9 lb) HGW: 181900 kilograms (401,020.9 lb) |
| Maximum take-off weight Maximum Take-Off Weight The Maximum Takeoff Weight or Maximum Takeoff Mass of an aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot of the aircraft is allowed to attempt to take off, due to structural or other limits. The analogous term for rockets is Gross Lift-Off Mass, or GLOW... (MTOW) |
275000 kilograms (606,271.2 lb) | 276500 kilograms (609,578.2 lb) | 372000 kilograms (820,119.6 lb) HGW: 380000 kilograms (837,756.6 lb) |
368000 kilograms (811,301.1 lb) HGW: 380000 kilograms (837,756.6 lb) |
| Cruising speed | Mach Mach number Mach number is the speed of an object moving through air, or any other fluid substance, divided by the speed of sound as it is in that substance for its particular physical conditions, including those of temperature and pressure... 0.82 (871 km/h/537 mph at 11,000 m/36,000 ft) |
Mach 0.83 (881 km/h/543 mph at 11,000 m/36,000 ft) | ||
| Maximum speed | Mach 0.86 (913 km/h/563 mph at 11,000 m/36,000 ft) | |||
| Maximum range, fully loaded | 8000 nautical miles (14,816 km) | 7400 nautical miles (13,704.8 km) | 8670 nautical miles (16,056.8 km) HGW: 9000 nautical miles (16,668 km) |
7750 nautical miles (14,353 km) HGW: 7900 nautical miles (14,630.8 km) |
| Take off run at MTOW | 2990 metres (9,809.7 ft) | 3000 metres (9,842.5 ft) | 3050 metres (10,006.6 ft) | 3100 metres (10,170.6 ft) |
| Maximum fuel capacity | 155040 litres (327,658.2 US pt) | 147850 litres (312,463 US pt) | 214810 litres (453,974.8 US pt) HGW: 222000 litres (469,170 US pt) |
195880 litres (413,968.6 US pt) HGW: 204500 litres (432,185.9 US pt) |
| Service ceiling | 12527 metres (41,099.1 ft) | |||
| Engines (×4) | CFM56-5C CFM International CFM56 The CFM International CFM56 series is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by CFM International , with a thrust range of . CFMI is a 50–50 joint-owned company of SNECMA, France and GE Aviation , USA. Both companies are responsible for producing components and each has its own... |
RR Trent 500 Rolls-Royce Trent 500 |-See also:-External links:*... |
||
| Thrust (×4) | 139–151 kN (139,000–151,000 ) | 248–260 kN (248,000–260,000 ) | 260–275 kN (260,000–275,000 ) | |
Sources: Airbus for −200 for −300 for −500 for −600.
Engines
| Model | Date | Engines |
|---|---|---|
| A340-211 | 1993 | CFM 56-5C2 CFM International CFM56 The CFM International CFM56 series is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by CFM International , with a thrust range of . CFMI is a 50–50 joint-owned company of SNECMA, France and GE Aviation , USA. Both companies are responsible for producing components and each has its own... |
| A340-212 | 1994 | CFM 56-5C3 CFM International CFM56 The CFM International CFM56 series is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by CFM International , with a thrust range of . CFMI is a 50–50 joint-owned company of SNECMA, France and GE Aviation , USA. Both companies are responsible for producing components and each has its own... |
| A340-213 | 1996 | CFM 56-5C4 CFM International CFM56 The CFM International CFM56 series is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by CFM International , with a thrust range of . CFMI is a 50–50 joint-owned company of SNECMA, France and GE Aviation , USA. Both companies are responsible for producing components and each has its own... |
| A340-311 | 1993 | CFM 56-5C2 CFM International CFM56 The CFM International CFM56 series is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by CFM International , with a thrust range of . CFMI is a 50–50 joint-owned company of SNECMA, France and GE Aviation , USA. Both companies are responsible for producing components and each has its own... |
| A340-312 | 1994 | CFM 56-5C3 CFM International CFM56 The CFM International CFM56 series is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by CFM International , with a thrust range of . CFMI is a 50–50 joint-owned company of SNECMA, France and GE Aviation , USA. Both companies are responsible for producing components and each has its own... |
| A340-313 | 1995 | CFM 56-5C4 CFM International CFM56 The CFM International CFM56 series is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by CFM International , with a thrust range of . CFMI is a 50–50 joint-owned company of SNECMA, France and GE Aviation , USA. Both companies are responsible for producing components and each has its own... |
| A340-541 | 2003 | RR Trent 553-61 / 553A2-61 Rolls-Royce Trent 500 |-See also:-External links:*... |
| A340-542 | 2007 | RR Trent 556A2-61 Rolls-Royce Trent 500 |-See also:-External links:*... |
| A340-642 | 2002 | RR Trent 556-61 / 556A2-61 Rolls-Royce Trent 500 |-See also:-External links:*... |
| A340-643 | 2006 | RR Trent 560A2-61 Rolls-Royce Trent 500 |-See also:-External links:*... |