The ultra-long-range four-engine variant of the A340 family. At 75.4 meters, it held the record for the worlds longest airliner until the 747-8. Popular for prestigious long-haul routes before twin-engine aircraft became dominant.
Passengers
320-380
Range
8,631 mi
Cruise Speed
547 mph
First Flight
2001
Did You Know?
The A340-600 was marketed with the slogan "4 engines 4 long haul" emphasizing passenger confidence in having four engines for overwater flights, though ETOPS rules later made this advantage moot.
History & Timeline
Key Milestones
First Flight
The A340-600 completed its maiden flight on April 23, 2001, from Toulouse, demonstrating its impressive 75.4-meter length.
Entry into Service
Virgin Atlantic became the first A340-600 operator in August 2002, branding it as the Four Engine 4 Long Haul aircraft.
End of Production
Airbus delivered the last A340 in November 2011 to Iberia, ending the four-engine widebody program with only 377 aircraft sold.
Development Story
Program Launch
The A340-600 was launched alongside the -500 as the worlds longest airliner, stretching the fuselage to accommodate up to 380 passengers.
Lufthansa Flagship
Lufthansa operated a large A340-600 fleet as its flagship long-haul aircraft before transitioning to more fuel-efficient twins.
Interesting Facts
Former Longest Airliner
At 75.4 meters, the A340-600 held the record for worlds longest airliner until the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental surpassed it in 2010.
Technical Specifications
Performance
- Range
- 13,890 km (8,631 mi)
- Cruise Speed
- 881 km/h (547 mph)
- Service Ceiling
- 12,497 m (41,001 ft)
Dimensions
- Length
- 75.4 m (247 ft)
- Wingspan
- 63.4 m (208 ft)
Capacity
- Passengers
- 320-380
- Cargo Volume
- 180 m³
Engines
- Engine Count
- 4x RR Trent 556
- Manufacturer
- Rolls-Royce
- Thrust (each)
- 249 kN
Weights
- Max Takeoff (MTOW)
- 380,000 kg (837,756 lbs)
- Fuel Capacity
- 195,620 L (51,677 gal)
Takeoff / Landing
- Takeoff Distance
- 3,400 m (11,155 ft)
- Landing Distance
- 2,200 m (7,218 ft)
Commercial
- Total Orders
- 97
- Delivered
- 97
- List Price
- $295.0M
History
- First Flight
- January 1, 2001
- Status
- Out of Production
Related Variants
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Data sourced from en.wikipedia.org