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Variant

A340-500

A340-500 is a member of the Airbus A340 Family. It should be read within the wider family context because engines, range, cabin layout, and cargo capability vary by airline configuration and production standard.

01

Overview

A340-500 is a member of the Airbus A340 Family. It should be read within the wider family context because engines, range, cabin layout, and cargo capability vary by airline configuration and production standard.

Advantages

  • Very long-range capability for its era.
  • Airbus cockpit commonality with A330 family.
  • Four engines reduced route-planning dependence on twin-engine diversion rules.

Limitations

  • Four-engine economics are weaker than modern twins.
  • Passenger fleets have declined significantly.
02

Identification

Key terms

Technical features

  • Connects model suffixes, airline maintenance strategy, and performance limits.
  • Important for aircraft identification and fleet comparison.

Advantages

  • Helps explain range, payload, noise, and fuel-burn differences.

Limitations

  • Public data may omit thrust derates or later engine swaps.
03

Aircraft line

FamilyAirbus A340 Family
ModelA340-500

Explore subtypes

A340-541Engine family: Trent 500View entryA340-541 high-weightEngine family: Trent 500View entry
04

Technical notes

Technical notes

  • Family context: The Airbus A340 is a four-engine long-range wide-body family developed alongside the A330, providing long overwater and ultra-long-range capability before modern twin-engine wide-bodies dominated the market.
  • Exact airline configuration can change seat count, galley arrangement, cargo capability, and operating range.
  • Engine reference: A340-500 uses Rolls-Royce Trent 500.
  • Cabin configuration should be treated as airline-specific: the same variant may be high-density, full-service, or premium-heavy.

Cabin configurations

Format: F8/J42/W28/Y216; F=First, J=Business, W=Premium Economy, Y=Economy

Thai Airways

J60/W42/Y113

Thai Airways official PDF source: Thai Airways A340-500, normalized cabin configuration J60/W42/Y113. Requested backfill v3. Thai official PDF states A340-500 configuration 60C / 42U / 113Y; U normalized to W.

Thai Airways official PDF

Emirates

F12/J42/Y204

Ready for Takeoff source: Emirates A340-500, normalized cabin configuration F12/J42/Y204. Requested backfill v3. Historical A340-500; source states Emirates configured 12 First, 42 Business, 204 Economy.

Ready for Takeoff

Etihad Airways

F12/J28/Y200

Ready for Takeoff source: Etihad Airways A340-500, normalized cabin configuration F12/J28/Y200. Requested backfill v3. Historical A340-500; source states Etihad configured 12 First, 28 Business, 200 Economy.

Ready for Takeoff
06

Sources

Wikipedia: Airbus A340 Family