COUNTDOWN TO A340-600 ROLL-OUT

In just 48 hours Airbus will celebrate the start of a new era in long distance travel, with the presentation to the world of the longest and largest airliner built by the European manufacturer to date: the high capacity, long range A340-600.

Featuring a spacious all-new interior and the quietest cabin in the sky, the A340-600 can carry 380 passengers in unmatched comfort over distances of up to 13,900km/7,500nm. In addition, this aircraft provides immense cargo capability for even greater revenue generating potential.

The first new aircraft to be “revealed” in the third millenium, the A340-600 was launched in December 1997 alongside its sister aircraft, the ultra-long range A340-500. Designed in close collaboration with airlines, these two airliners will further extend the attraction of the market-leading A330/A340 Family, providing lower operating costs and better revenue potential than their competitors, while enjoying total freedom of flight without ETOPS constraints. The A340-600 is powered by Trent 500 engines from Rolls-Royce.

The roll-out ceremony to be held in Toulouse on 23rd March will be attended by customers, suppliers and media from all over the world, eager to discover the latest in a series of outstanding products from Airbus. Indeed, the A340-600 is emblematic of the comprehensive Airbus family of aircraft, each of which are the newest and most advanced in their respective markets. Now functioning as a fully integrated company, Airbus continues to raise the standards, and to respond to customer needs in the 21st century.

Longer, larger, farther, faster, higher, quieter and smoother, the A340-500/-600 take advantage of the latest proven technologies to deliver the ultimate in long-range air travel.

With 127 firm orders and commitments from 11 customers, the A340-500/-600 are clear leaders in their category, with 59 per cent of the market at the end of 2000. The A340-600 will make its first flight in late April 2001 and will enter airline service in mid-2002.

To date Airbus has won a total of more than 4,200 firm orders from 175 customers worldwide for its comprehensive aircraft family, of which over 2,500 have already been delivered. Orders for the market-leading A330/A340 Family stand at almost 690 from 58 customers.