Airbus A340-300

Description: The Airbus A340 is a four-engine, wide-body, non-stop long/ultra-long range airliner capable of carrying between 240 and 380 passengers over a range of up to 16,000 kilometers (8,600 nautical miles). It provides a high degree of comfort thanks to its spacious layout. The first ever A340 airliner, an A340-300 model, entered service in 1993.

Externally, the A340 is similar to the Airbus A330 excepting for the number of engines because both were developed simultaneously by Airbus to meet the requirements of long range and ultra-long range commercial aviation in the 200- to 400-seat category. The A330/340 family features optimized performance and design for lower operating costs. It can be powered by Rolls Royce's Trent 500 (A340-500 and A340-600), or CFMI's CFM56-5C (A340-200 and A340-300) engines. In addition to its seating capacity, the A340 airliner can transport cargo (pallets or/and containers) thanks to its voluminous underfloor holds.

The Airbus A340-300 along with the A340-200 entered service in 1993 powered by four CFM56-5C engines. The program was launched in 1987 by Airbus Industry. Using a three-class cabin layout the A340-300 can carry up to 295 passengers over a range of 13,500 kilometers (7,300 nautical miles). The Airbus A340-300 has a larger fuselage, payload and seating capacity than the A340-200 model.

The A340-300E is an enhanced version of the A340-300 incorporating the newest technologies developed for the Airbus A340-500/-600 long range programs. It has, among others, the latest flight deck equipment, an increased passengers' comfort and enhanced engines. This will allow airlines to benefit from substantial operational cost savings as well as a brand new state of the art cabin.