IATA 310ICAO A310

Airbus A310

Airbus

TravelerPulse profile

Airbus's versatile wide-body twin for medium to long haul.

First flight

1982

Category

Wide-body jet

Seating

220–280 passengers (typical two-class)

Range

9,600 km

Engines

Two turbofans; Pratt & Whitney PW4000 or General Electric CF6-80C2

Status

In service

The Airbus A310 is a wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner developed as a shorter-fuselage derivative of the A300. Launched in 1978 and entering service in 1983, it was designed to serve thinner routes with fewer passengers while retaining the A300's cross-section and advanced systems. The A310 introduced a number of innovations, including a two-crew glass cockpit, a new supercritical wing, and one of the first uses of composite materials in primary aircraft structures. These advances significantly influenced subsequent Airbus designs. Though largely phased out by major carriers, the A310 continues to serve with some airlines, cargo operators, and military forces. Several air forces operate it as a VIP transport, tanker, or strategic freighter, giving the type a remarkably long operational life.

Notable operators

Major past operators included Lufthansa, Swissair, Air France, and Singapore Airlines; current operators include Mahan Air and various military and cargo users.

Notable facts

›First Airbus aircraft certified for extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS).
›Introduced a two-crew glass cockpit, eliminating the need for a flight engineer.
›Featured one of the first large-scale uses of composite materials in a commercial airliner's structure.
›Several A310s serve as military tanker/transport aircraft with the German, Canadian, and French air forces.
›The A310's advanced supercritical wing was newly designed rather than adapted from the A300.