AIRBUS reveals the first A340-600

At a roll-out ceremony held in Toulouse today, Airbus presented its longest and largest airliner yet: the high capacity, long range A340-600. Customers, suppliers and media from all over the world attended the ceremony, which focussed on Airbus’ guiding philosophy in terms of performance and operating efficiency, innovation, passenger comfort, customer consultation and family commonality.

These themes were evoked in relation to Airbus’ longstanding commitment to people: to the customers and their passengers, to industrial partners and suppliers, to Airbus employees at all levels of the organisation and to Airbus’ shareholders. Noël Forgeard, Airbus Chief Executive Officer, reiterated this commitment to people in his speech, referring to Airbus’ pioneering spirit, the creativity of Airbus engineers and employees throughout Europe who, working closely with customers, are able to develop exceptional products, like the A340-600, which are matched to market needs and set new standards in the industry.

“This is the spirit we intend to maintain: to continue to develop and build the best products to the benefit of our customers and the travelling public, as well as our shareholders,” said Noël Forgeard. “The A340-600 is the first aircraft to be completed by Airbus since our transformation into a fully integrated company and it prefigures the added value our customers will derive from the new Airbus.”

The first new aircraft to be “revealed” in the third millennium, the A340-600 was launched in December 1997 alongside its sister aircraft, the ultra-long range A340-500. Designed in close collaboration with airlines – many of whom were present at the ceremony – these two airliners will further extend the attraction of the market-leading A330/A340 Family.

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. Both new versions are powered by Trent 500 engines from Rolls-Royce.

The A340-600 and -500 provide lower operating costs and better revenue potential than their competitors, while enjoying total freedom of flight without ETOPS constraints. Featuring a spacious all-new interior and the quietest cabin in the sky, the A340-600 can carry 380 passengers in a standard three-class configuration over distances of up to 13,900km/7,500nm in unmatched comfort. With the longest range of any planned or in-service airliner, the A340-600’s smaller sibling, the A340-500, can transport 313 passengers in a standard three-class layout over distances of up to 16,000km/8,650nm.

With 127 firm orders and commitments from eleven 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.