Airbus A340-300

The Airbus A340-300 typically seats 277 passengers in a three-class configuration. In a two-class layout, it can carry up to 335 passengers. The cabin is 5.28 m wide with a standard 2-4-2 seating arrangement in economy. The A340-300 was the most popular variant of the A340 family, accounting for the majority of orders.

The Airbus A340-300 has a maximum range of approximately 13,500 km (7,290 nautical miles). This range was sufficient for most long-haul routes including transatlantic, transpacific, and intercontinental services. The aircraft is powered by four CFM56-5C4 turbofan engines, the same engine family used on the A320 but in a higher-thrust configuration.

The 777-200ER carries more passengers with better fuel efficiency using just two engines, which ultimately led to the A340's decline. The 777-200ER has a wider cabin (5.87 m vs 5.28 m) and similar range. The A340-300's four engines provided an advantage under older ETOPS regulations that restricted twin-engine aircraft on overwater routes, but as ETOPS rules were relaxed, the 777's economic advantages became decisive.

The A340-300 is most easily identified by its four engines combined with a wide-body fuselage, a combination shared only with the A340-200/500/600 and the Boeing 747. It has a slender fuselage with a distinctive single main landing gear unit between the two engine pairs. The wings are the same as the A330, and the cockpit and nose are identical to other A330/A340 family members.

The A340 was retired by most airlines because its four engines consumed significantly more fuel than modern twin-engine alternatives like the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350. Airlines including Lufthansa, Air France, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific phased out their A340 fleets in favor of the A350 and 787 Dreamliner. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated retirements. A total of 246 A340-300s were delivered, with only a handful remaining in passenger service.