Airbus A340 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Airbus A340
Role	Wide-Body Jet airliner
National origin	Multi-country origin
Manufacturer	Airbus
First flight	25 October 1991
Introduction	15 March 1993 with Lufthansa
Status	Not made anymore, but still used by airlines
Primary users	Lufthansa Iberia Virgin Atlantic South African Airways
Produced	1993-2011
Number built	377
Unit cost	A340-200: US$87 million (1989) A340-300: US$238.0 million (2011) A340-500: US$261.8 million (2011) A340-600: US$275.4 million (2011)
Developed from	Airbus A300
Variants	Airbus A330
Developed into	Airbus A350 XWB

The Airbus A340 is a large, four-engine passenger airplane built by Airbus. It's designed for very long flights across the world. This plane looks a lot like the Airbus A330, but the A330 only has two engines.

The first A340 flew on 25 October 1991. It started carrying passengers for Lufthansa on 15 March 1993. Airbus stopped making the A340 in 2011. Even though it's not made anymore, many airlines still use it today.

Different Kinds of A340s

The Airbus A340 comes in four main versions. These versions are different sizes and can fly different distances.

A340-200 and A340-300

The A340-200 is the shortest version of the plane. It can carry fewer passengers but can fly very far. The A340-300 is a bit longer and is one of the most common versions.

A340-500 and A340-600

The A340-500 is a longer version designed for super long flights. It was one of the planes that could fly the farthest without stopping.

The A340-600 is the longest version. For a while, it was the second longest passenger plane in the world. It can carry many passengers and fly very long distances.

Why Four Engines?

The Airbus A340 has four engines. This is different from many modern long-range planes that only have two engines. Having four engines means the A340 uses more fuel.

However, having four engines also means the A340 doesn't need to pass a special test called ETOPS. This test is for planes with two engines that fly very long distances over water or remote areas. Because the A340 has four engines, it has extra safety if one engine stops working.

The A340's Legacy

Airbus stopped making the A340 because newer planes became more efficient. The Airbus A350 XWB is a newer plane that replaced the A340. The A350 uses less fuel and is more modern.

Even though production ended, the A340 played an important role in air travel. It helped airlines fly passengers on very long routes around the world.

Images for kids

• 

  The Airbus A330 (on the ground) has two engines, while the A340 (flying) has four.

• 

  The cockpit of an A330/A340 looks similar to the A320.

• 

  An A340-200 at the 1992 Farnborough Air Show.

• 

  The A340-600 was the longest passenger plane until the Boeing 747-8 came out in 2010.

• 

  A view of the A340-600 wing from below.

• 

  SriLankan Airlines was one of the first airlines in Asia to use the A340.

• 

  A South African Airways A340-300 landing in 2018.

• 

  The economy cabin inside an A340, showing 8 seats across.

• 

  The different sizes of the Airbus A340 family.

• 

  A French Air and Space Force A340-200 at an airport.

• 

  A Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 seen from above.

• 

  The A340-500 was introduced by Emirates in 2003.

• 

  The A340-600 has five doors on each side.

• 

  The remains of Air France Flight 358 after an accident at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

• 

  This A340-600 was damaged during a ground test before it was delivered to Etihad Airways.

See also

In Spanish: Airbus A340 para niños