Airbus A340-300

13 Feb 2026 · © Unknown

The SWISS fleet of A340-300s is among the last still flying intercontinental routes regularly. Quad-jets like these are iconic for aviation enthusiasts and plane spotters.

1 / 2

2 likes 1 comments

Comments (1)

Mitchell · 13 Feb 2026

Not a 340 obviously

More like this

Airbus (formerly Bombardier, CSeries program) A220-300

Airbus (formerly Bombardier) A220-100 (formerly Bombardier CS100)

Aircraft

A340-300 A343

SWISS International Air Lines standard livery

Airline

SWISS International Air Lines

SWR / LX

Manufacturer

Airbus

Insights

Aviation History

The Airbus A340-300 is a long-haul, four-engine wide-body jet that helped open up ultra-long routes. SWISS was among the last European flag carriers to operate the type in regular intercontinental service.

Fleet Rarity

Few A340-300s remain in passenger service worldwide; SWISS is one of only a handful of major airlines still using this type in 2024.

Record Flights

The A340-300 has been used for many long-haul routes including Zurich–Hong Kong and Zurich–Johannesburg; its quad-jet design allowed polar and ultra-long overwater flights before ETOPS twins dominated.

Safety & Events

Generally has a solid safety record; SWISS’s A340 fleet was known for a major cabin retrofit in the late 2010s.

Future Outlook

Most will be retired within a few years, due to age and inefficiency compared to newer twins like the A350 and B787.

Specifications

CFM56-5C4

Engine

60.3 m

Wingspan

63.7 m

Length

13,500 km

Range

875 km/h

Speed

Approx. 277 passengers (typical 3-class configuration)

Capacity

275,000 kg

MTOW

16.7 m

Height

151.0 kN (34,000 lbf) each

Thrust

ICAO Chapter 3/4; varies by engine mod

Noise

Registration is not readable in this image; small risk of misidentification with A330 but the A340-300’s four engines and proportions are evident.