Airbus A340-600-USA Aircraft Group Corporation

Date: 2025/10/20

The Airbus A340-600 is the model with the longest fuselage and the largest passenger capacity in the A340 series, and it is also one of the longest passenger aircraft in aviation history (second only to Boeing 747-8). It is famous for its extremely long body, four engines and powerful long-range flight capabilities.

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Core highlights and positioning

· Market positioning: Mainly for long-distance routes with high passenger flow, it aims to replace the early Boeing 747 series and provide efficient capacity on routes that do not require super-large passenger aircraft (such as A380).

· The biggest feature: The length of the fuselage is 75.36 meters, which is more than 10 meters longer than its competitor Boeing 747-400, which makes its appearance very slender and recognizable.

· Power design: Four engines were used, which was used at that time to meet the requirements of long-distance cross-ocean flight when the ETOPS (double-engine extended flight) rules were not fully popularized, and to give airlines and passengers the psychological guarantee of "four-engine safer".

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Main technical parameters

· Manufacturer: Airbus

· First flight time: April 23, 2001

· Put into operation: August 2002

· Fuselage length: 75.36 meters (one of the longest airliners in history)

· Wingspan: 63.45 meters

· Typical passenger capacity: about 380-420 people (typical two-level cabin layout)

· Maximum range: about 14,600 kilometers (7,900 nautical miles)

· Engine: Four Rolls-Royce Trent 556 turbofan engines

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Design features and cabin layout

1. Slender body:

· The most prominent external features. In order to support the ultra-long body, its main landing gear has four axles (a total of 12 tires), and the structure is very complex.

· The huge internal space provides airlines with flexible cabin layout possibilities.

2. Spacious cabin:

· The cabin width is the same as that of A330, A350, etc., providing a comfortable wide-body airliner experience.

· The typical third-level cabin layout usually includes:

· First class/business class: located at the front of the plane, with a spacious space.

· High-end economy class: provide more comfortable seats and spacing than economy class.

· Economy class: Due to the long body, the economy class area is very large, usually with "2-4-2" seat arrangement, and the experience of passengers in the middle seat is relatively good.

3. Unique lower space:

· In the middle and rear of the fuselage, there is a crew rest area under the cabin floor, which is usually equipped with beds for rotating crew members who carry out extra-long routes (such as more than 10 hours).

· The cargo hold capacity is also quite considerable, which can carry both passengers and a large number of goods.

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Operation history and current situation

· Glorious period: At the beginning of the 21st century, the A340-600 was one of the flagship models of many large airline long-range fleets, and was widely used by Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Iberia Airways, Cathay Pacific, etc.

· Challenge and retirement:
· High fuel consumption: this is its biggest disadvantage. The fuel efficiency of the four engines is far inferior to that of a new generation of twin-engine wide-body airliners (such as Boeing 777, Airbus A350 and Boeing 787).

· Operating cost: With the rise in oil prices and the progress of engine technology, the operating economy of the A340-600 has gradually lost its competitiveness.

· Therefore, after 2010, many airlines began to accelerate the retirement of the A340 fleet and turned to the purchase of more efficient A350-900/1000 and Boeing 777-300ER.

· Current situation:

· Most A340-600s have been retired from mainstream airlines.

· Some aircraft are acquired by the second-hand market and converted into cargo aircraft by some freight companies, or continue to operate by airlines with special needs (such as Iranian airlines, which are difficult to obtain new aircraft due to sanctions) and government agencies (used as VIP aircraft).

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Anecdotes

· "Flying Baguette": Because of its extremely slender body, aviation enthusiasts gave it the nickname "Flying Baguette".

· Difficulty in ground operation: The ultra-long fuselage makes it necessary to be extra careful when turning and sliding, and the requirements for the width of the airport taxiway are high.

· Iconic users: Virgin Atlantic was once one of its most famous users. Its A340-600 is equipped with the iconic "Upper Class" bar, which has become part of its brand image.

Sum up

Airbus A340-600 is an outstanding product that represents a specific aviation era. It has left a deep mark on the history of long-distance air transport with its unparalleled fuselage length and four-pronge safety. However, in today's pursuit of extreme efficiency, it has been replaced by a more advanced and fuel-efficient twin-hair wide-body airliner, but its unique appearance and former glory are still remembered by aviation enthusiasts.

In short, the A340-600 is one of the last giants of the "four-way long-range passenger aircraft era", an elegant and efficient "air long-distance train".