IATA 343ICAO A343

Airbus A340-300

Airbus

TravelerPulse profile

Long-range four-engine widebody built for ultra-long routes.

First flight

1991

Category

Wide-body jet

Seating

250–295 passengers (typical 3-class)

Range

13,500 km

Engines

4× CFM International CFM56-5C turbofans

Status

In service (limited, winding down)

The Airbus A340-300 is a long-range, wide-body commercial jet that entered service in 1993. Designed to compete with the Boeing 747 and 777 on extended intercontinental routes, it features four CFM56 turbofan engines and a twin-aisle cabin capable of carrying over 250 passengers in a typical three-class configuration. The A340-300 shares a common fuselage cross-section with the A330-300 and was developed in parallel with it, allowing airlines significant fleet commonality. Its four-engine configuration gave operators confidence for ETOPS-unrestricted long overwater and polar operations without the regulatory constraints applied to twin-engine jets at the time. As fuel prices rose in the 2000s, the A340-300's four-engine layout became an economic disadvantage compared to more fuel-efficient twin-engine alternatives. Many major operators have since retired the type, and Airbus ceased production in 2011. A small number remain in service with secondary carriers and government operators.

Notable operators

Lufthansa, Air France, South African Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, and Iberia were among the largest operators of the A340-300.

Notable facts

›The A340-300 and A330-300 share the same fuselage and many systems, enabling significant pilot and maintenance commonality.
›Airbus delivered 218 A340-300 aircraft before production ended in 2011.
›The type entered commercial service with Lufthansa and Air France in March 1993.
›Its four-engine design exempted it from early ETOPS restrictions, making it attractive for overwater routes before twin-engine rules were relaxed.
›Rising fuel costs relative to twin-engine jets like the Boeing 777 and A330 accelerated its retirement from major fleets.