airbus to terminate a340 program
Nov 10, 2011 | 6:06 pm
#1
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airbus to terminate a340 program
on aviation week I saw that airbus annouced it is going to to terminate the A340 program due to lack of any recent sales..
I had thought the A340 was a popular aircraft. but oh well..... I was a little surprised by this
what are others reactions to this development?
I had thought the A340 was a popular aircraft. but oh well..... I was a little surprised by this
what are others reactions to this development?
Nov 10, 2011 | 6:38 pm
#3
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The airframe was obsolete a long time ago, outdone by big twins from the 773 to Airbus' own A333 series. It stuck around this long just in case any buyers had a phobia about two-engine ETOPs ops, but that bias seems over.
Nov 10, 2011 | 10:11 pm
#8
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The thing was a rocket though. I remember riding one of the first ones IAD-CDG in 1994, about a year after they came online, and we made it in under six hours.
Nov 11, 2011 | 12:03 pm
#10
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I have always admired the A340s. Definitely had fun riding Iberia A346 with the meaty Trent engines. Longest AC too, longer than any 747/A380.
You can also blame this cancellation on the 777, Boeing started building the 1000th frame a few days ago.
You can also blame this cancellation on the 777, Boeing started building the 1000th frame a few days ago.
Nov 11, 2011 | 12:20 pm
#11
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IB just "baptised" a new A340/600 in Lima 3 days ago
Link in Spanish
Called Rio Amazonas it is one of only 3 IB planes to not be named after a famous Spaniard or a Spanish city.
Its first flight was full of Spanish dignitaries and journalists and followed the route of the Amazon back to Madrid
Despite it being only 3 days old, I am sure that it will have no IFE in Y and the interior dcor will resemble those curtains that my gran had in her lounge in the 70's.
Fond memories myself of riding a LAN A340 into SCL the first time I came to South America, floating down over the snow-capped Andes before landing was spectacular and the A340 seemed to do it with such grace.
Link in Spanish
Called Rio Amazonas it is one of only 3 IB planes to not be named after a famous Spaniard or a Spanish city.
Its first flight was full of Spanish dignitaries and journalists and followed the route of the Amazon back to Madrid
Despite it being only 3 days old, I am sure that it will have no IFE in Y and the interior dcor will resemble those curtains that my gran had in her lounge in the 70's.
Fond memories myself of riding a LAN A340 into SCL the first time I came to South America, floating down over the snow-capped Andes before landing was spectacular and the A340 seemed to do it with such grace.
Last edited by JohnnyColombia; Nov 11, 2011 at 12:29 pm
Nov 11, 2011 | 12:43 pm
#12
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My fondest memory on one is the invite from the pilot to move from my row 1 seat to a cockpit seat for LIM takeoff.
Nov 11, 2011 | 1:46 pm
#13
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They have a great range and a strong capacity, but the fuel consumption really skews the profit margin on the 340. If that aircraft is not loaded to capacity with PAX and the airline isn't pricing themselves out of the market on seats, a long haul in a 340 is most likely going to end in a loss or a very very small profit (say, a few hundred dollars). Other aircraft are just more efficient.