Lufthansa orders seven Airbus A340-600

The Lufthansa Supervisory Board has approved orders for seven Airbus A340-600 long-haul jets.

The new aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2006 and 2007. The orders are fully in line with capacity planning for the Airbus A380, which will begin joining the fleet from the end of 2007. Besides replacing existing aircraft, the new A340-600s will equip the airline with the capacity required to accommodate forecasted demand in the next few years.

Wolfgang Mayrhuber, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO Deutsche Lufthansa AG: “Our quality product is convincing more customers, daily. In harness with our partners, we are gearing for systematic growth. Our two hubs in Frankfurt and Munich offer further perspectives in long-haul traffic. Lufthansa is intent on strengthening its strategic position and making the most of its opportunities. Its overriding aim, however, is to achieve profitable and market-driven growth.”

They already have A340-600's

http://photos.airliners.net/f430d776cce55e49ef5c2fb02ca10c41/41bbb1b2/middle/3/6/4/728463.jpg

December 20, 2004

Planemaker Airbus confirmed on Monday it had received an order from Lufthansa for seven A340-600 planes.

In a statement Airbus said the new planes are scheduled for delivery in 2006 and 2007.

"We are pleased to see Lufthansa placing a repeat order for the Airbus A340-600, confirming the airline's confidence in the aircraft type," Airbus President and CEO Noel Forgeard said.

Airbus is 80 percent owned by European aerospace company EADS and 20 percent owned by BAE Systems.

(Reuters

Emirates Airline has signed a USD138m finance deal to acquire a new Airbus A340-500 using a Japanese Operating Lease for the first time. The entire 13-year JOL funding was sourced from Japanese institutions and was arranged by Orix Corporation with commercial debt by the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi.

The A340-600 is an awsomely long aircraft, and very well powered. The A 340-500 is also a wonderful aircraft, which offers the longest flight range ever... as you know,, Singapore Airlines flyes some 345's (340-500's) nonstop from Los Anegeles to Singapore. No other aircraft is capable of doing that trip in one leg so far.
The A340-300's are good too, but somewhat underpowered.

Congrats to Airbus.

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).


Cruise speed: 861 km/h.
Max. speed: 915 km/h.


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.

http://www.zap16.com/images/lb03-a340-flight.jpg

The A340-600 is a beautiful airplane.

Passengers two class:

- 30 business class.
- 329 economy class.

Passengers three class:

- 12 first class.
- 42 business class.
- 259 economy class.

Cabin length: 53,56 m.
Cabin diameter: 5,28 m.
Cabin height: 2,54 m.
Cargo volume:

Total load 153,9 m³.
LD3 Containers in belly: 30.
Standard 2.24m x 3.17m pallets:

in belly 10.
Wing span: 63,45 m.
Wing area: 439,4 m².
Wing sweep: 31,1 degrees.
Fuselage length: 67,90 m.
Fuselage diameter: 5,64 m.
Height: 17,1 m.
Wheelbase: 27.59 m.
Track: 10,69 m.
Engines:

- Four Rolls-Royce Trent 553 rated 236 kN.
Weight:

- Empty: 170.400 Kg.

- Max. zero-fuel weight: 232.000 Kg.

- Fuel: 222.000 liter.

- Max. payload: 30.800 Kg.
Max. take off weight: 380.000 Kg.
Max. landing weight: 246.000 Kg.
Cruise speed: 861 km/h.
Max. speed: 915 km/h.


Airbus A340-500 operators:
6 - Emirates.
5 - Singapore Airlines.
2 - Air Canada.
1 - Qatar Amiri Flight.


http://www.zap16.com/Gatwick2004%20part1/Gat04%20Airbus%20A3340-541%20A6-ERA%20Emirates%202.jpg

Jet Air adds Airbus 340-300E to fleet
Our Corporate Bureau / Mumbai May 12, 2005

Jet Airways on Wednesday inducted the Airbus 340-300E into its fleet for its long haul routes starting May 23, 2005, from Mumbai to London. This is the first of the three A340s-300E which are being inducted into Jet Airways� fleet up to June 2005.

Wolfgang Prock-Scahuer, chief executive officer, Jet Airways, said: irbus 340-300E is a state-of-the-art-aircraft which results in fuel efficiency and operational flexibility.�

The plane, which will carry 239 passengers in a two-class layout, boasts of a flat bed seats and an inflight entertainment system complete with digital audio and video on demand to all seats. It also will offer the iXplorTM - the inflight tracking system that will let passengers track the flight progress from their seats.

Jet Airways currently operates a fleet of 36 Boeings and 8 ATRs. Schauer stated that the induction of Airbus should in no way be considered an exit of the other two companies.

In fact, Jet will receive 10 Boeings by the end of the 2006 financial year, added Schauer. He also said that the company had no immediate plans for the A-380s.

The company stated that it flew 8 million passengers last year including to countries like Colombo and Kathmandu which was almost a 17 per cent increase from the previous year.

Air Mauritius expands its fleet with new Airbus A340-300E aircraft
27 June 2005


Air Mauritius has signed a firm purchase agreement with Airbus for three A340-300Es, with deliveries to begin in the last quarter of 2006. The contract covers also two further options on the same type.

Seating 300 passengers in a two-class configuration, Air Mauritius’ A340-300Es will offer 36 premium class seats with the latest comfort standards in the six abreast configuration that is largely preferred by passengers. Economy class will have 264 seats.

The A340-300E is an enhanced version of the A340-300 and incorporates the newest technologies developed for the most recent Airbus long range programmes. It has, among others, the latest flight deck equipment, an increased passengers’ comfort and enhanced engines.

The aircraft will be powered by four CFM International CFM56-5C4/P engines bringing lower fuel burn and emissions. With its unique four-engine operational capability, the A340 ensures ETOPS free operations in the particularly demanding routes over extremely long stretches of ocean to India, Asia and Australia.

A340-600

http://www.3d-aviation.com/wallpaper/Iberia_800x600.jpg


A340-500

http://www.3d-aviation.com/wallpaper/Star_800x600.jpg

Those big Rolls Royce engines really suit the plane's size, a big leap from the older 300 series...i like it, it makes the A340s a beatiful plane

NEW YORK -- The Air France jetliner that skidded off a Toronto runway and burst into flames Tuesday was the first A340 to crash since Airbus introduced the plane in 1992.

The plane in Tuesday's accident was an A340-300, Airbus spokeswoman Barbara Kracht confirmed Tuesday night. The plane is part of the A330/A340 family of six related aircraft, with all sharing the same airframe.

The A340 has never crashed since it was introduced for commercial service in 1992, Kracht, said, speaking by telephone from Toulouse, France.

The plane is a very popular "workhorse" among carriers serving Asian and trans-Atlantic routes, with a very good safety record, said Chris Yates, an aviation specialist with Jane's Transport magazine.

There are 237 of the A340-300 and its sister craft, the A340-200, in operation, according to Airbus' Web site.

The four-engine plane is typically configured to carry 295 passengers and fly up to 7,400 miles before refueling.

Besides Air France, the A340-300 is flown by Taiwan's China Airlines, Air Mauritius, TAP Air Portugal and Air Tahiti Nui.

The plane's manufacturer, Airbus, is 80 percent owned by European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. Britain's BAE Systems PLC owns the rest.

Recent months have brought Airbus a wealth of positive attention, in part from continued strong sales of its jets and robust earnings. But most of the publicity has focused on the company's test flight in April of the A380, the world's largest jetliner, capable of carrying as many as 840 passengers.

Paris-based Air France-KLM Group is the world's largest airline in terms of revenue. It is the product of the French flagship airline's acquisition last year of Dutch carrier KLM. For the year ended in March, the company earned $443 million on revenues of $24.1 billion.

Air France-KLM operates a fleet of 375 planes for 1,800 daily flights, according to the company's Web site. In the last fiscal year, it carried 43.7 million passengers to 84 countries around the globe. That made it the largest European carrier in terms of the number of passengers carried.

Associated Press Business Writer Laurence Frost contributed to this story.


http://www.detnews.com/pix/2005/08/03/0asec/as03-crashairbus-0805n_08-03-2005_Q47N0T1.jpg
The A340 is typically configured to carry 295 passengers and fly up to 7,400 miles before refueling. In April, the craft's maker, Airbus, tested the world's largest jetliner, capable of carrying 840 passengers.

The article does not include that Air Canada flies 10 Airbus A340-300.

Airbus says too early to comment after Air France A340 slides off Toronto runway
08.03.2005, 06:29 AM

PARIS (AFX) - A spokeswoman for Airbus Industrie said the company would not comment on possible causes of yesterday's accident involving an Airbus A340 jet operated by Air France in Canada, which slid off a Toronto runway and burst into flames just after landing.

'The investigation has begun, and we are at the stage of simple speculations,' the official said.

Air France chief executive Jean-Cyril Spinetta will hold a press conference in Paris at 11.30 am today.

The airline has already said the plane was bought new in Sept 1999, and had passed its most recent inspection less than a month ago, on July 5. It is the first major accident involving the A340 model since its launch 14 years ago.

Passengers on the plane indicated that it was struck by lightening during landing, but so far, Air France has said it is too early to determine the exact cause of the accident.

There were no casualties among the 297 passengers, and Toronto airport authorities said 43 people were brought to local hospitals with only minor injuries.

Airbus A340 Production List

List (http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/Airbus/A340/index.html)

How large are these compared to a 777 or 747?

I flew one to Madrid a month ago, the thing was huge.

http://www.computing.dcu.ie/computety/2005/cbrode-cty/A330A340-c2.gif

Powerplants
A340-500 - Four 236kN (53,000lb) Rolls-Royce Trent 553 turbofans A340-600 - Four 249kN (56,000lb) Rolls-Royce Trent 556 turbofans.

Performance
Typical cruising speed Mach 0.83. A340-500 - Range with 313 passengers 15,742km (8500nm). A340-600 - Range with 380 passengers 13,890km (7500nm).

Weights
A340-500 - Operating empty 170,400kg (375,665lb), max takeoff 365,000kg (804,675lb). A340-600 - Operating empty 177,000kg (390,220lb), max takeoff 365,000kg (804,675lb).

Dimensions
A340-500 - Wing span 63.70m (208ft 11in), length 67.80m (222ft 5in), height 17.80m (58ft 5in). Wing area 437.0m2 (4704sq ft). A340-600 - Same, except length 75.30m (247ft 0in).

Capacity
A340-500 - Flightcrew of two. Typical three class seating for 316 passengers. A340-600 Typical three class seating for 372.

Production
69 A340-500s/600s ordered by early 2003, of which 11 delivered. These include 17 A340-500 (1 delivered) and 52 A340-600 (10 delivered).

Type
Long range widebody airliners
Schematics

http://www.computing.dcu.ie/computety/2005/cbrode-cty/3view-A340200.gif

History
The 15,740km (8500nm) ultra long range A340-500 and stretched 372 seat A340-600 are new variants of the Airbus A340 family, and are currently the world's longest range airliners.

Compared with the A340-300, the A340-600 features a 9.07m (35ft 1in) stretch (5.87m/19ft 3in ahead of the wing and 3.20m/10ft 6in behind), allowing it to seat 372 passengers in a typical three class arrangement. This gives Airbus a true early model 747 replacement and near direct competitor to the 747-400, with similar range, but, Airbus claims, better operating economics (per seat).

The A340-500 meanwhile is stretched by only 3.19m (10ft 6in) compared with the A340-300, and so seats 313 in three classes, but it has a massive range of 15,740km (8500nm), which makes it the longest ranging airliner in the world, capable for example of operating Los Angeles-Singapore nonstop.

The two new A340 models share a common wing. The wing is based on the A330/A340's but is 1.6m (5.2ft) longer and has a tapered wingbox insert, increasing wing area and fuel capacity. Both models feature three fuselage plugs. The other change to the A340 airframe is the use of the A330-200 twin's larger fin and enlarged horizontal area stabilisers. To cope with the increased weights the centre undercarriage main gear is a four wheel bogie, rather than a two wheel unit.

Both new A340s have a high degree of commonality with the A330 and other A340 models. They feature Airbus' common two crew flightdeck, but with some improvements such as LCD rather than CRT displays and modernised systems.

The A340-500 is powered by four 236kN (53,000lb) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 556 turbofans, and the A340-600 by the 249kN (56,000lb) thrust Trent 556.

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. First flight of the A340-600 was made on April 23, 2001. After a 1600 hour flight test program, certification was received on May 29, 2002. Virgin Atlantic took delivery of its first A340-600 at the 2002 Farnborough International Airshow, and began commercial services in August.

The A340-500 made its first flight on February 11, 2002, and was certificated on December 3 after 400 hours of flight test.

http://www.computing.dcu.ie/computety/2005/cbrode-cty/A330A340-c2.gif

Powerplants
A340-500 - Four 236kN (53,000lb) Rolls-Royce Trent 553 turbofans A340-600 - Four 249kN (56,000lb) Rolls-Royce Trent 556 turbofans.

Performance
Typical cruising speed Mach 0.83. A340-500 - Range with 313 passengers 15,742km (8500nm). A340-600 - Range with 380 passengers 13,890km (7500nm).

Weights
A340-500 - Operating empty 170,400kg (375,665lb), max takeoff 365,000kg (804,675lb). A340-600 - Operating empty 177,000kg (390,220lb), max takeoff 365,000kg (804,675lb).

Dimensions
A340-500 - Wing span 63.70m (208ft 11in), length 67.80m (222ft 5in), height 17.80m (58ft 5in). Wing area 437.0m2 (4704sq ft). A340-600 - Same, except length 75.30m (247ft 0in).

Capacity
A340-500 - Flightcrew of two. Typical three class seating for 316 passengers. A340-600 Typical three class seating for 372.

Production
69 A340-500s/600s ordered by early 2003, of which 11 delivered. These include 17 A340-500 (1 delivered) and 52 A340-600 (10 delivered).

Type
Long range widebody airliners
Schematics



Ok thanks, So it's about 7 feet longer, but less powerful, lighter and skinnier.

Still an impressive plane. :)

Airbus pitches long-range A340 to Qantas
Thursday October 27, 2005

Airbus has returned to Qantas with a longer-range version of the A340-500 in an effort to meet the carrier's requirement for an aircraft to fly from Sydney to London.

However, Airbus COO Customers John Leahy conceded that the variant's performance is marginal with just 120 business and first class seats.

Both the A340-500 and the 777-200LR can perform the London-Sydney leg with a good payload--240 passengers for the 777-200LR--but Qantas apparently is not keen on a one-stop or one-way service. Until the advent of the DC-7C in 1955, all transatlantic flights were one-stop westbound and some analysts believe that a 45-min. technical fuel stop would be acceptable westbound to London. They argue that a technical stop without joining passengers and their bags would eliminate the many delays that plague hub-style operations and suggest that the big plus to Qantas is the nonstop flight home to Australia.

Both the A340-500 and 777-200LR easily can handle the Sydney-New York and Sydney-Dallas missions in both directions. Some analysts have suggested that Qantas link up with oneworld partners American Airlines and British Airways to operate eastbound Sydney-Dallas-London-Sydney with a 777-200LR in a three-class first, business and premium economy configuration. The Australian carrier is expected to announce a commitment for up to 100 aircraft in the 777 and 787 classes by early December.

by Geoffrey Thomas

I think the A340-500 is the best-looking single deck plane. The 600 is slighly out of proportion with its length. The B777-300 also looks nice.