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Airbus A340 Airbus
A340
Long-Range Jetliner

DESCRIPTION:
Designed as a four-engined long-range complement to the A330, the A340 competes primarily with Boeing's 777 and 747. The A340 shares many features with the A330, including the same fuselage, landing gear, tail assembly, flight deck, and basic wing. The wing structure and leading-edge slats are slightly modified because of the two additional engines that power the A340.
The first two major versions of the A340 are the basic A340-300 and the extended-range A340-200. A combined passenger/freight A340-300 model has also been developed. One of the latest models is the A340-600 with a longer fuselage for up to 410 (and possibly 550) passengers and much more powerful engines. A shorter A340-500 with enlarged wings and increased fuel capacity complements the -600 by offering even greater range. Over 230 examples of the A340 had been built by 2003, but further sales have been quite weak. By 2009, the backlog had become so small that production could could conceivably end in 2010.
Data below for A340-200 and A430-300
Last modified 11 April 2011

HISTORY:

First Flight (A340-300) 25 October 1991
(A340-500) 11 February 2002
(A340-600) 23 April 2001

Service Entry

(A340-300) March 1993 (with Lufthansa)
(A340-500) February 2004 (with Singapore Airlines)

CREW: two flight crew: pilot, co-pilot

PASSENGERS: (A340-200) 263 in three classes, 303 in two classes
(A340-300) 295 in three classes, 335 in two classes
(A340-500) 318 in three classes, 440 in one class
(A340-600) 380 in three classes, 485 in one class

ESTIMATED COST:

unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root unknown

Wing Tip

unknown

DIMENSIONS:

Length (A340-200) 194.83 ft (59.39 m)
(A340-300) 208.83 ft (63.65 m)
(A340-500) 222.77 ft (67.90 m)
(A340-600) 247.05 ft (75.30 m)

Wingspan (A340-200/300) 197.83 ft (59.06 m)
(A340-500/600) 208.33 ft (63.45 m) including winglets

Height (A340-200) 54.75 ft (16.70 m)
(A340-300) 54.92 ft (16.75 m)
(A340-500/600) 56.72 ft (17.29 m)

Wing Area (A340-200/300) 3,892 ft² (361.6 m²)
(A340-500/600) 4,729 ft² (439.4 m²)

Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:

Empty (A340-200) 284,400 lb (129,000 kg)
(A340-300) 285,000 lb (129,275 kg)
(A340-500) 374,780 lb (170,000 kg)
(A340-600) 390,215 lb (177,700 kg)

Normal Takeoff unknown

Max Takeoff (A340-200) 606,300 lb (275,015 kg)
(A340-300) 597,500 lb (271,020 kg)
(A340-500/600) 804,680 lb (365,000 kg)
(A340-500/600 HGW) 837,755 lb (380,000 kg)

Fuel Capacity (A340-200] 40,960 gal (155,040 L)
(A340-300) 37,380 gal (141,500 L)

Max Payload

(A340-200) 101,915 lb (45,915 kg)
(A340-300) 95,900 lb (43,500 kg)
(A340-500) 112,875 lb (51,200 kg)
(A340-600) 137,345 lb (62,300 kg)

PROPULSION:

Powerplant (A340-300) four General Electric/SNECMA CFM56-5C2 turbofans
(A340-500) four Rolls Royce Trent 553 turbofans
(A340-600) four Rolls Royce Trent 556 turbofans

Thrust (A340-300) 138,480 lb (616.0 kN)
(A340-500) 212,220 lb (944.0 kN)
(A340-600) 223,910 lb (996.0 kN)

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: 580 mph (930 km/h) at 30,000 ft (9,145 m), Mach 0.86
at sea level: unknown
cruise speed: 555 mph (890 km/h) at 35,000 ft (10,670 m), Mach 0.83

Initial Climb Rate unknown

Service Ceiling 41,010 ft (12,500 m)

Range (A340-200) 8,000 nm (14,800 km)
(A340-300) 7,150 nm (13,250 km)
(A340-500) 8,665 nm (16,050 km)
(A340-500 HGW) 9,000 nm (16,700 km)
(A340-600) 7,505 nm (13,900 km)
(A340-600 HGW) 7,900 nm (14,600 km)

g-Limits unknown

KNOWN VARIANTS:

A300B11 Airbus design study based on the A300 that led to the A340 concept

A340-200 Long-range model with a shorter fuselage; 28 built by 2001

A340-200 HGW
or A340-8000 High-gross weight variant based on the A340-200 with increased fuel capacity and reduced passenger load for very long range

A340-300 First production model; 163 built by 2001

A340-300 Combi Combined passenger/cargo model based on the A340-300 and typically carrying 190 to 220 passengers plus four to six cargo pallets

A340-300 Enhanced Upgrade available for A340-300 airframes that includes a fly-by-wire controlled rudder, improved flight deck, and a revised cabin

A340-300 HGW High-gross weight variant based on the A340-300 with increased fuel capacity, a strengthened wing structure, and uprated engines

A340-500 Long-range model with a fuselage 10.50 ft (3.20 m) longer than the A340-300 and wings roughly 20% larger to carry about 318 to 440 passengers and fitted with uprated engines

A340-500 HGW High-gross weight variant based on the A340-500 with the increased fuel capacity and strengthened structure of the A340-600 HGW for greater range

A340-600 Long-range model with a fuselage 35.75 ft (10.90 m) longer than the A340-300 for 380 to 485 passengers and equipped with more powerful engines

A340-600 HGW High-gross weight variant based on the A340-600 with increased fuel capacity and strengthened structure for greater range

A340M Proposed military version similar to the A340-300 Combi for use as a personnel and cargo transport or in-flight refueling tanker

KNOWN OPERATORS:

Civil Aerolineas Argentinas
Air Canada
Air China
Air France
Air Inter
Air Jamaica
Airlanka
Air Lib
Air Maritius
Air Namibia
Air Nippon
Air Tahiti Nui
All Nippon Airways
AOM French Airlines
Arik Air
Austrian Airlines
BCI Aircraft Leasing
BWIA West Indies Airways
Cathay Pacific Airways
China Airlines
China Eastern Airlines
China Southwest Airlines
Egyptair
Emirates
Etihad Airways
Euro First Air
EVA
Finnair
Flightlease
Gulf Air
Garuda Indonesia
Iberia
International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC)
Jet Airways
Khalifa Airways
Kingdom Holding
Kingfisher Airlines
Kuwait Airways
LAN Chile
Lufthansa
Olympic Airways
Philippine Air Lines
Qatar Airways
Royal Jordanian Airlines
Sabena
SAS Scandinavian Airlines
Singapore International Airlines
South African Airways
Srilankan Airlines
Sultan's Flight Brunei
Swissair
Swiss International Airlines
TAM Brasil
TAP Air Portugal
Thai Airways International
Turkish Airlines
Virgin Atlantic Airways

Government/Military Egypt, Al Quwwat al Jawwiya il Misriya (Egyptian Air Force)
Saudi Arabia, Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Malakiya as Sa'udiya (Royal Saudi Air Force)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

Airbus A340

SOURCES:

Aboulafia, Richard. Jane's Civil Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1996, p. 36-37, Airbus A340.

Airbus A330/A340 site

Chant, Christopher and Taylor, Michael J.H. The World's Greatest Aircraft. Edison, NJ: Chartwell Books, 2006, p. 239, Airbus Industrie A340.

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 36, Airbus Industrie A330 and A340.

Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft. San Diego, CA: Thunder Bay Press, 1999, p. 42-46, A330/A340.

Müller, Claudio. Aircraft of the World. NY: Muddle Puddle Books, 2004, p. 36-37, Airbus A340-600/-500.

Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 206, Airbus A340.

Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 290-291, Airbus A340.

Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 274-275, Airbus A340.

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DESCRIPTION: Designed as a four-engined long-range complement to the A330, the A340 competes primarily with Boeing's 777 and 747. The A340 shares many features with the A330, including the same fuselage, landing gear, tail assembly, flight deck, and basic wing. The wing structure and leading-edge slats are slightly modified because of the two additional engines that power the A340. The first two major versions of the A340 are the basic A340-300 and the extended-range A340-200. A combined passenger/freight A340-300 model has also been developed. One of the latest models is the A340-600 with a longer fuselage for up to 410 (and possibly 550) passengers and much more powerful engines. A shorter A340-500 with enlarged wings and increased fuel capacity complements the -600 by offering even greater range. Over 230 examples of the A340 had been built by 2003, but further sales have been quite weak. By 2009, the backlog had become so small that production could could conceivably end in 2010. Data below for A340-200 and A430-300 Last modified 11 April 2011
HISTORY:
First Flight	(A340-300) 25 October 1991 (A340-500) 11 February 2002 (A340-600) 23 April 2001
Service Entry	(A340-300) March 1993 (with Lufthansa) (A340-500) February 2004 (with Singapore Airlines)
CREW:	two flight crew: pilot, co-pilot
PASSENGERS:	(A340-200) 263 in three classes, 303 in two classes (A340-300) 295 in three classes, 335 in two classes (A340-500) 318 in three classes, 440 in one class (A340-600) 380 in three classes, 485 in one class
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	unknown
Wing Tip	unknown
DIMENSIONS:
Length	(A340-200) 194.83 ft (59.39 m) (A340-300) 208.83 ft (63.65 m) (A340-500) 222.77 ft (67.90 m) (A340-600) 247.05 ft (75.30 m)
Wingspan	(A340-200/300) 197.83 ft (59.06 m) (A340-500/600) 208.33 ft (63.45 m) including winglets
Height	(A340-200) 54.75 ft (16.70 m) (A340-300) 54.92 ft (16.75 m) (A340-500/600) 56.72 ft (17.29 m)
Wing Area	(A340-200/300) 3,892 ft² (361.6 m²) (A340-500/600) 4,729 ft² (439.4 m²)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	(A340-200) 284,400 lb (129,000 kg) (A340-300) 285,000 lb (129,275 kg) (A340-500) 374,780 lb (170,000 kg) (A340-600) 390,215 lb (177,700 kg)
Normal Takeoff	unknown
Max Takeoff	(A340-200) 606,300 lb (275,015 kg) (A340-300) 597,500 lb (271,020 kg) (A340-500/600) 804,680 lb (365,000 kg) (A340-500/600 HGW) 837,755 lb (380,000 kg)
Fuel Capacity	(A340-200] 40,960 gal (155,040 L) (A340-300) 37,380 gal (141,500 L)
Max Payload	(A340-200) 101,915 lb (45,915 kg) (A340-300) 95,900 lb (43,500 kg) (A340-500) 112,875 lb (51,200 kg) (A340-600) 137,345 lb (62,300 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	(A340-300) four General Electric/SNECMA CFM56-5C2 turbofans (A340-500) four Rolls Royce Trent 553 turbofans (A340-600) four Rolls Royce Trent 556 turbofans
Thrust	(A340-300) 138,480 lb (616.0 kN) (A340-500) 212,220 lb (944.0 kN) (A340-600) 223,910 lb (996.0 kN)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 580 mph (930 km/h) at 30,000 ft (9,145 m), Mach 0.86 at sea level: unknown cruise speed: 555 mph (890 km/h) at 35,000 ft (10,670 m), Mach 0.83
Initial Climb Rate	unknown
Service Ceiling	41,010 ft (12,500 m)
Range	(A340-200) 8,000 nm (14,800 km) (A340-300) 7,150 nm (13,250 km) (A340-500) 8,665 nm (16,050 km) (A340-500 HGW) 9,000 nm (16,700 km) (A340-600) 7,505 nm (13,900 km) (A340-600 HGW) 7,900 nm (14,600 km)
g-Limits	unknown
KNOWN VARIANTS:
A300B11	Airbus design study based on the A300 that led to the A340 concept
A340-200	Long-range model with a shorter fuselage; 28 built by 2001
A340-200 HGW or A340-8000	High-gross weight variant based on the A340-200 with increased fuel capacity and reduced passenger load for very long range
A340-300	First production model; 163 built by 2001
A340-300 Combi	Combined passenger/cargo model based on the A340-300 and typically carrying 190 to 220 passengers plus four to six cargo pallets
A340-300 Enhanced	Upgrade available for A340-300 airframes that includes a fly-by-wire controlled rudder, improved flight deck, and a revised cabin
A340-300 HGW	High-gross weight variant based on the A340-300 with increased fuel capacity, a strengthened wing structure, and uprated engines
A340-500	Long-range model with a fuselage 10.50 ft (3.20 m) longer than the A340-300 and wings roughly 20% larger to carry about 318 to 440 passengers and fitted with uprated engines
A340-500 HGW	High-gross weight variant based on the A340-500 with the increased fuel capacity and strengthened structure of the A340-600 HGW for greater range
A340-600	Long-range model with a fuselage 35.75 ft (10.90 m) longer than the A340-300 for 380 to 485 passengers and equipped with more powerful engines
A340-600 HGW	High-gross weight variant based on the A340-600 with increased fuel capacity and strengthened structure for greater range
A340M	Proposed military version similar to the A340-300 Combi for use as a personnel and cargo transport or in-flight refueling tanker
KNOWN OPERATORS:
Civil	Aerolineas Argentinas Air Canada Air China Air France Air Inter Air Jamaica Airlanka Air Lib Air Maritius Air Namibia Air Nippon Air Tahiti Nui All Nippon Airways AOM French Airlines Arik Air Austrian Airlines BCI Aircraft Leasing BWIA West Indies Airways Cathay Pacific Airways China Airlines China Eastern Airlines China Southwest Airlines Egyptair Emirates Etihad Airways Euro First Air EVA Finnair Flightlease Gulf Air Garuda Indonesia Iberia International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) Jet Airways Khalifa Airways Kingdom Holding Kingfisher Airlines Kuwait Airways LAN Chile Lufthansa Olympic Airways Philippine Air Lines Qatar Airways Royal Jordanian Airlines Sabena SAS Scandinavian Airlines Singapore International Airlines South African Airways Srilankan Airlines Sultan's Flight Brunei Swissair Swiss International Airlines TAM Brasil TAP Air Portugal Thai Airways International Turkish Airlines Virgin Atlantic Airways
Government/Military	Egypt, Al Quwwat al Jawwiya il Misriya (Egyptian Air Force) Saudi Arabia, Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Malakiya as Sa'udiya (Royal Saudi Air Force)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Aboulafia, Richard. Jane's Civil Aircraft. Glasgow: Harper Collins Publishers, 1996, p. 36-37, Airbus A340. Airbus A330/A340 site Chant, Christopher and Taylor, Michael J.H. The World's Greatest Aircraft. Edison, NJ: Chartwell Books, 2006, p. 239, Airbus Industrie A340. Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 36, Airbus Industrie A330 and A340. Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft. San Diego, CA: Thunder Bay Press, 1999, p. 42-46, A330/A340. Müller, Claudio. Aircraft of the World. NY: Muddle Puddle Books, 2004, p. 36-37, Airbus A340-600/-500. Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 206, Airbus A340. Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997. London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 290-291, Airbus A340. Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 274-275, Airbus A340.