A340

The Airbus A340 was born into an age of ambition – when airlines sought to connect the farthest points on the globe without compromise, and four engines were the passport to confidence across oceans and continents. From its earliest conception during the widebody revolution of the 1970s to its final flights in the 2020s, the A340 embodied both technological mastery and the boldness of an industry unafraid to push limits.

This definitive account traces the complete story of Airbus’s four-engine flagship – from design and development through decades of global service. It chronicles the aircraft’s pioneering routes, record-setting flights, and the airlines and crews who trusted it to bridge hemispheres. The narrative follows its rise to prominence alongside rivals such as the Boeing 747 and 777, its role in shaping Airbus’s long-haul identity, and its graceful decline in an era defined by efficiency and twin-engine innovation.

Combining engineering insight with historical depth, A340: Four Engines for Long Thin Routes celebrates one of aviation’s most elegant airliners – a machine that flew beyond the horizon of its time and left an enduring mark on the skies it once ruled.