Airbus A340 Overview
The Airbus A340 is a long-range, wide-body commercial passenger jet airliner that was developed and produced by the European aerospace company Airbus. In the mid-1970s, Airbus conceived several derivatives of the A300, its first airliner, and developed the A340 quadjet in parallel with the A330 twinjet.
History
The A340 was designed as a long-range aircraft, capable of flying transoceanic routes without the ETOPS restrictions that applied to twin-engine aircraft at the time. With four engines, it provided the redundancy and safety required for long-haul overwater flights.
Specifications
- Length: 63.69 m (A340-300) to 75.36 m (A340-600)
- Wingspan: 60.30 m
- Range: 13,500 km to 14,450 km
- Engines: 4 x CFM56-5C or 4 x Trent 500
Assembly
The site for the construction of the Airbus A340 was Toulouse-Blagnac. Here, Airbus maintained a just-in-time system where components would arrive at the factory just as they were needed.
Cabin Interior
The A340’s cabin is designed for passenger comfort and operational efficiency. In a standard three-class configuration, it typically seats between 220 and 300 passengers.