Launched in 1987, the Airbus A340 series of aircraft share a great deal of commonality with its sister aircraft, the A330. Featuring nearly identical cockpits, its fly-by-wire controls meaning A340 pilots can transition to the A330 in only one day and vice versa in only three.

The A340 was launched in 1987, entering service in early 199, the -200 with Lufthansa and the -300 with Air France.

Powered by four CFM56 engines, the A340 classics could carry up to 295 passengers 8,000nm (14,000km) at M.86 (901kmh).

Production of the A340-200 ended in the 1990s, while the last -300 is due for imminent delivery to a VIP customer.

A340-500/600

The larger, longer-range A340-500/600 family was launched in December 1997, featuring a 20% larger wing and Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines.

The -600 version entered service with Virgin Atlantic in August 2002, with the smaller, ultra-long-range A340-500 following with Emirates in late 2003.

The surge in oil price has hampered sales of the A340-500/600, which Airbus concedes suffers a fuel burn penalty compared with the twin-engined 777.

In conjunction with brake supplier Messier-Bugatti, the airframer claimed a technical world first in February 2008 when its development A340-600 became the first large commercial aircraft to fly with an electrical braking system.

To date, 381 A340s have been ordered, with 355 having been delivered.