The Airbus A340-600 is the largest and highest-capacity variant of the A340 family. Designed to compete with long-haul, high-capacity aircraft like the Boeing 747, the A340-600 features a significantly stretched fuselage, making it one of the longest commercial aircraft ever built. It was introduced in the early 2000s to serve dense, long-haul routes requiring both extended range and maximum seating.

With its four Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines, advanced avionics, and large passenger capacity, the A340-600 offered excellent intercontinental performance. Despite its technical capabilities and comfort, its four-engine layout made it less fuel-efficient than newer twin-engine aircraft, leading to its gradual phase-out in favor of more modern alternatives like the Airbus A350-1000 and Boeing 777-300-ER.

Key Specifications (A340-600)

• Crew: 2 (Pilots).
• Capacity: Typically 320–380 passengers (up to 475 in all-economy layout).
• Length: 75.36 m (247 ft 2 in).
• Wingspan: 63.45 m (208 ft 2 in).
• Height: 17.30 m (56 ft 9 in).
• Max Takeoff Weight (MTOW): Up to 380,000 kg (837,800 lb).
• Engines: 4× Rolls-Royce Trent 556 turbofans.
• Cruise Speed: Mach 0.82 (~871 km/h or 541 mph).
• Range: ~14,450 km (8,980 mi).
• Ceiling: ~41,000 ft (12,500 m).

Notable Features

• One of the longest passenger aircraft in the world, offering impressive capacity.
• Four-engine design provides redundancy for long overwater flights.
• Advanced avionics and fly-by-wire controls, similar to other Airbus wide-bodies.
• Wide-body twin-aisle cabin ideal for premium international service.
• Higher freight and passenger capacity, making it suitable for flagship routes.

Variants

• A340-200 – Shorter version with lower capacity and range.
• A340-300 – Balanced original version with improved range and efficiency.
• A340-500 – Ultra-long-range model for the longest intercontinental routes.
• t A340-600 – Stretched, high-capacity version with a focus on dense long-haul routes.

Operators & Usage

• Operated by airlines such as Lufthansa, Iberia, and South African Airways on major long-haul routes.
• Used on high-demand intercontinental services where high capacity and range were required.
• Phased out by most airlines due to high fuel consumption compared to newer twin-engine jets.
• Some aircraft have been converted for cargo or VIP/government transport.