Airbus A340-200

The Airbus A340-200 is a long-range, wide-body, four-engine commercial airliner developed by Airbus as part of the A340 family. It is the shortest-fuselage variant of the A340, offering extended range at the cost of reduced passenger capacity compared to its sibling, the A340-300. The aircraft was designed to serve thin, ultra-long-haul routes where high fuel efficiency and range were prioritized over seat count. The A340-200 entered service in 1993, with launch customer Lufthansa. Its four CFM56 engines gave it excellent reliability for extended overwater operations under ETOPS-alternative regulations, as four-engine aircraft were not subject to the same ETOPS restrictions as twin-engine jets. However, the relative inefficiency of four engines compared to modern twin-engine alternatives eventually led to declining orders. Production of the A340-200 was limited, with only 28 aircraft built before the variant was discontinued. Many operators have since retired the type in favor of more fuel-efficient long-range twinjets such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350. A small number remained in service with select operators and government fleets into the 2020s.