As of April 2020, all active remaining A340-200s still flying are VIP or government planes, except the sole A340-200 operated by Conviasa. This aircraft is also the last A340-200 in commercial airline service.
Why did A340 fail?
Fuel consumption was the main issue for the A340. While the -300 and -600 sold well due to their large sizes leading to lower per-seat costs, there was less of a market for the smaller and longer-range -200 and -500. The -200 especially faced sales issues, with none remaining in commercial service today.
How far can an A340 fly?
The A340-500 is the world’s second longest range airliner, allowing for a maximum distance of 16,670km (9,000nmi) with flight durations of up to 19 hours.
When did the Airbus A340 fly its first flight?
The first flight of the A340 occurred on 21 October 1991, marking the start of a 2,000-hour test flight programme involving six aircraft.
What is the range of the Airbus A340-200 corporate jet?
In 2008, Airbus launched a dedicated corporate jetliner version of the A340-200: one key selling point of this aircraft was a range of up to 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km). Airbus had built up to nine different customized versions of the A340 to private customer’s specific demands prior to 2008.
Why does the A340 have a variable camber wing?
The A330/A340 shares a common flight deck with the A320. Airbus briefly considered a variable camber wing; the concept was that the wing could change its profile to produce the optimum shape for a given phase of flight. Studies were carried out by British Aerospace (BAe) at Hatfield and Bristol.
Which airlines are retiring the Airbus A340s?
International Airlines Group, the parent of Iberia Airlines (which is also the operator of the last production A340 built), is overhauling its A340-600s for continued service for the foreseeable future, while it is retiring its A340-300s.
