Airbus A340

The commercial launch for the A340-500/600 was at the 1997 Paris Airshow, the program's industrial launch was in December that year when Virgin Atlantic ordered eight A340-600s and optioned eight.

Compared with the A340-300, the A340-600 features a 9,07 m stretch (5,87 m ahead of the wing and 3,20 m behind). The wing is based on the A330/A340's but is 1.6 m longer and has a tapered wingbow insert, increasing wing area and fuel capacity.

The A340-600 fuselage is 4,61 meters longer than the 747-400. With similar payload capability and as much as twice the under floor cargo volume, the A340-600 is the new benchmark in comfort, range and operating efficiency. Latest deliveries of the A340-600 have introduced new features such as lower-deck facilities, which include galleys with a trolley lift to main deck, creating more seating capacity on the main deck. In addition, airlines have chosen to install mini suites in First Class cabins and AFIS (Airbus In Flight Information System).

Developing nation:	Europe.
Manufacturer/designer:	EADS - Airbus Industries.
Production line:	Toulouse - Blagnac, France.
Type aircraft:	Long range wide body airliner.
First flight:	April 23, 2001, F-WWTA c/n. 360.
First delivery:	August 2002 to Virgin Atlantic.
	Airbus A340-600
Cockpit crew:	Two pilots.
Passengers two class:	- 36 business class. - 383 economy class.
Passengers three class:	- 12 first class. - 54 business class. - 314 economy class.
Cabin length:	60,98 m.
Cabin diameter:	5,28 m.
Cabin height:	2,54 m.
Cargo volume:	Total load 207,6 m³.
LD3 Containers in belly:	43.
Standard 2.24m x 3.17m pallets:	in belly 14.
Wing span:	63,45 m.
Wing area:	439,4 m².
Wing sweep:	31,1 degrees.
Fuselage length:	75,30 m.
Fuselage diameter:	5,64 m.
Height:	17,3 m.
Wheelbase:	32,89 m.
Track:	10,69 m.
Engines:	- Four Rolls-Royce Trent 556 rated 249 kN.
Weight:	- Empty: 177.000 Kg. - Max. zero-fuel weight: 251.000 Kg. - Fuel: 204.500 liter. - Max. payload: 55.600 Kg.
Max. take off weight:	380.000 Kg.
Max. landing weight:	265.000 Kg.
Cruise speed:	861 km/h.
Max. speed:	915 km/h.
Service ceiling:	11.887 m.
Max. range:	14.600 km.

Airbus A340-600 airline operators:
10 - Lufthansa.	3 - Cathay Pacific Airlines.
7 - South African Airways.	1 - Airbus Industries.
7 - Virgin Atlantic Airways.
5 - Iberia.
5 - China Eastern Airlines.