The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
September 11, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Technology & Internet›Aviation›Airbus A340
Technology & Internet • Aviation

Airbus A340

The Airbus A340 is a long-range, wide-body passenger airliner developed and produced by Airbus.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 11, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Airbus A340 is a long-range, wide-body passenger airliner developed and produced by Airbus. It is a four-engine aircraft family that entered service in 1993 and was manufactured from 1991 to 2011.

Development

Airbus developed the A340 as a long-range jet in parallel with the A330 program. The first flight took place on 25 October 1991, with the A340-300 variant.

Design

The A340 is a four-engine wide-body jet with a twin-aisle cabin layout. Its configuration helped Airbus target long-haul markets that required extended range and redundancy.

Variants

The family was produced in several fuselage lengths and performance versions, including the A340-200, A340-300, A340-500 and A340-600. The A340-600 is the longest passenger aircraft in the family and among the longest passenger aircraft ever built.

Service history

The A340 entered airline service in 1993 and production ended in 2011. Although retirement has reduced the active fleet, the type has remained notable for long-haul operations and a large cumulative service record. By December 2021, the aircraft had completed over 2.5 million flights and carried over 600 million passengers. According to the cited fleet history, the A340 has had no fatal accidents in commercial service.

Key facts

  • The A340 was Airbus’s first long-range airliner.
  • It is a four-engine wide-body aircraft designed for long-haul routes.
  • The family includes variants such as the A340-200, -300, -500 and -600.
  • Production ended in 2011 after 377 deliveries (380 built).
  • The aircraft completed over 2.5 million flights and carried over 600 million passengers by December 2021, with no fatal accidents in commercial service.
🍁
Canadian context

The A340 has operated with Canadian airlines and at Canadian airports in international long-haul service, making it relevant to Canadian aviation history and fleet operations.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Airbus A340?
A long-range, wide-body passenger airliner built by Airbus and powered by four turbofan engines.
When did the A340 first fly?
The A340 first flew on 25 October 1991.
When was the A340 in production?
It was produced from 1991 to 2011.
How many A340s were built?
Sources cited here give 377 delivered and 380 built.
What variants were made?
The main variants were the A340-200, -300, -500 and -600.
Is the A340 still in service?
Yes, but in declining numbers; the type remains in service with a smaller global fleet.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A340
    Supports: General description, first long-range Airbus, four-engine wide-body design, service history, fleet performance figures.
  2. Wikipedia (French) — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A340
    Supports: Production dates, aircraft family overview.
  3. Wikipedia (German) — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A340
    Supports: First flight date, fly-by-wire milestone, delivered and in-service counts.
  4. Lufthansa Group — https://www.lufthansagroup.com/en/company/fleet/lufthansa-and-regional-partners/airbus-a340-600.html
    Supports: A340-600 dimensions, range, seating capacity, and aircraft length.