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Airbus A340-300

(wikipedia.org)
Updated: 2010-09-02 14:52

An Air China Airbus A340-300 [File photo]

The A340-300 flies 295 passengers in a typical three-class cabin layout over 6,700 nautical miles (12,400 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, similar to the -200. Its closest competitor is the Boeing 777-200ER.

The A340-300E, often mislabeled as A340-300X, has an increased MTOW of up to 275 tonnes and is powered by the more powerful 34,000 lbf (151 kN) thrust CFMI CFM56-5C4 engines. Typical range with 295 passengers is between 7,200 and 7,400 nautical miles (13,300 km and 13,700 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.[15]

The A340-300 Enhanced is the latest version of this type and was first delivered to South African Airways in 2003. It received newer CFM56-5C4/P engines and improved Avionics and Fly-by-Wire systems developed for the A340-500/-600.

The A340-300 is no longer in production with the last of 218 A340-300s delivered to a private Cayman Island company Klaret Aviation in September 2008, with the final airline delivery to Finnair in July 2008. The A340-300 will be superseded by the A350-900.