Aircraft encyclopedia · Airbus
Airbus A340-600: Specifications, Range and History
The Airbus A340-600 is a four-engine, long-range widebody airliner and the largest-capacity member of the A330/A340 family. At 75.36 m it is 12 m longer than the A340-300, and in range it is second only to the A340-500.
Airbus launched the A340-500 and A340-600 together on 8 December 1997. The A340-600 first flew on 23 April 2001 and entered service with launch customer Virgin Atlantic on 1 August 2002. Airbus built 97.
At a glance
A340-600 at a glance
| Class |
Long-range, four-engine widebody airliner |
| Best for |
High-capacity long-haul routes up to about 7,800 nm |
| Passengers |
380 typical (12 first, 54 business, 314 economy); 320 to 370 in three-class layouts |
| Exit limit |
440, or 475 with modified exits |
| Flight crew |
2 pilots |
| Compare with |
A340-500, Boeing 777-300ER, Airbus A350-1000 |
Size
Dimensions
| Length |
75.36 m (247 ft 3 in) |
| Wingspan |
63.45 m (208 ft 2 in) |
| Height |
17.93 m (58 ft 10 in) |
| Wing area |
437.3 m² (4,707 sq ft), 31.1° sweep, aspect ratio 9.2 |
| Fuselage width |
5.64 m (18 ft 6 in) |
| Cabin width |
5.287 m (208.1 in) |
| Cargo volume |
201.7 m³ (7,120 cu ft) |
Range and speed
Performance
| Range, 3-class |
7,800 nm (14,450 km) |
| Range, high gross weight version |
up to 7,900 nm (14,630 km) |
| Cruise speed |
Mach 0.82, 471 kn (872 km/h) at 39,000 ft |
| Maximum operating speed |
Mach 0.86 |
| Takeoff field length |
3,400 m (11,200 ft) |
Weights
Weights
| Maximum takeoff weight |
up to 380 t (about 838,000 lb) |
| Maximum payload |
66 t (146,000 lb) |
| Operating empty weight |
174 t (384,000 lb) |
| Maximum fuel |
155.5 t (342,905 lb) |
Equipment
Equipment and main systems
What is installed on the A340-600, which other versions exist and where the same equipment flies.
Engines
On the A340-600
4 x Rolls-Royce Trent 556, 56,000 lbf (250 kN) each. The high gross weight version uses the Trent 560, 61,900 lbf (275 kN).
The Trent 500
Built only for the A340-500 and A340-600. It combines the fan of the Trent 700 with a scaled Trent 800 core: fan diameter 2.47 m, bypass ratio up to 8.5:1 in cruise.
History
First run in May 1999, certified in December 2000, entered service in July 2002 on the A340-600. 524 engines were delivered on-wing.
Flight deck and controls
On the A340-600
Fly-by-wire flight controls with side-sticks and an A320-style glass cockpit for two pilots
Commonality
The fly-by-wire system and many components are shared with the A330, which allows common crew training across the A330 and A340
Landing gear
On the A340-600
A four-wheel centre main landing gear on the fuselage centreline, in addition to the two wing gears and the nose gear, to carry the higher takeoff weight
APU
On the A340-600
Honeywell 331-600[A]
Fuselage and wing
Fuselage
12 m longer than the A340-300, on the A330/A340 cross-section: 5.64 m outside, 5.287 m cabin width
Wing
437.3 m², 31.1° sweep, aspect ratio 9.2, shared with the A340-500
Engines across the A340-500 and A340-600
| A340-500 |
4 x Rolls-Royce Trent 553 · range 9,000 nm, 3-class |
| A340-600 |
4 x Rolls-Royce Trent 556 · range 7,800 nm, 3-class |
| A340-600 high gross weight |
4 x Rolls-Royce Trent 560 · range up to 7,900 nm |
Equipment and weights vary by serial number, options and later modifications. ICCJET checks the actual configuration of each aircraft.
The cabin
Three-class layouts seat 320 to 370 passengers. The typical Airbus layout is 380 seats: 12 first, 54 business and 314 economy. The lower deck takes 201.7 m³ of cargo.
History
History and production
| Launched |
8 December 1997, together with the A340-500 |
| First flight |
23 April 2001 |
| Certified |
21 May 2002 |
| Entered service |
1 August 2002, Virgin Atlantic (launch customer) |
| High gross weight version |
certified in 2006 |
| Deliveries |
97, from 2002 to 2010 |
| End of programme |
announced by Airbus on 10 November 2011 |
| In service |
33 aircraft with nine airlines (March 2024) |
Rivals
A340-600 vs Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350-1000
A340-600
Range7,800 nm, 3-class
Seats380 typical, 3-class
Engines4 x RR Trent 556
Max takeoff weight380 t
Entered service2002
Delivered97
Boeing 777-300ER
Range7,370 nm, 392 seats 2-class
Seats392, 2-class
Engines2 x GE90-115B, 115,300 lbf
Max takeoff weightup to 351.5 t
Entered service2004
Delivered833
Airbus A350-1000
Range9,000 nm
Seats369, 2-class
Engines2 x RR Trent XWB, 97,000 lbf
Max takeoff weight322 t
Entered service24 February 2018
StatusIn production
The A340-600 and the 777-300ER competed for the same airlines. The twin-engine 777-300ER arrived two years later and sold 833 aircraft against 97. Airbus answered with the twin-engine A350-1000, which flies farther than both.
Seat counts are quoted in different cabin layouts, so compare them as a guide, not like for like.
Routes
Three nonstop routes in range
Istanbul to Los Angeles
AirportsIST to LAX
Distance5,940 nm
Still-air timeabout 12.6 h
Frankfurt to Singapore
AirportsFRA to SIN
Distance5,550 nm
Still-air timeabout 11.8 h
Dubai to Los Angeles
AirportsDXB to LAX
Distance7,240 nm
Still-air timeabout 15.4 h
Calculated great-circle distances and still-air times at 471 kn. Real flights depend on winds, payload, routing and fuel reserves. Check any route in the ICCJET Aircraft Route Planner.
FAQ
Airbus A340-600: questions
What is the range of the Airbus A340-600?
7,800 nm (14,450 km) in three-class configuration, up to 7,900 nm for the high gross weight version.
How many passengers does the A340-600 carry?
380 in the typical three-class layout, 320 to 370 in other three-class layouts. The exit limit is 440, or 475 with modified exits.
What engines does the A340-600 use?
Four Rolls-Royce Trent 556 turbofans of 56,000 lbf each. The high gross weight version uses the Trent 560 at 61,900 lbf.
How many A340-600s were built?
97, delivered between 2002 and 2010.
What is the difference between the A340-600 and the A340-500?
The A340-600 is 7.43 m longer and seats 67 more passengers in a typical layout. The A340-500 flies 1,200 nm farther: 9,000 nm against 7,800 nm.
Is the A340-600 still in production?
No. Airbus closed the A340 programme in November 2011.
Charter
Charter a long-haul airliner
Need the cabin before you buy one? ICCJET arranges charter of business jets, group airliners and cargo aircraft.
Istanbul
AirportsIST · SAW · ISL
Kazakhstan
AirportsALA · NQZ · CIT · GUW
International
DeparturesWorldwide on request
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Specifications are published reference figures. Individual aircraft vary by configuration and modifications. Page checked 16 October 2026.
