IATA 345ICAO A345

Airbus A340-500

Airbus

TravelerPulse profile

Ultra-long-range four-engine widebody for non-stop global routes.

First flight

2002

Category

Wide-body jet

Seating

293–313 passengers (typical two-class)

Range

16,670 km

Engines

Four Rolls-Royce Trent 553 turbofans

Status

In service (limited)

The Airbus A340-500 is an ultra-long-range variant of the A340 family, designed to operate some of the world's longest non-stop commercial routes. It features a stretched fuselage compared to the baseline A340-300, accommodating more passengers and additional fuel capacity to achieve its exceptional range. The aircraft entered service in 2003 and was operated by a small number of carriers seeking to connect distant city pairs without intermediate stops. Its four CFM56 engines provided reliability but were less fuel-efficient than twin-engine competitors, which ultimately limited its commercial appeal. As fuel prices rose in the late 2000s and more efficient twin-engine alternatives such as the Boeing 777-200LR became available, operators retired their A340-500 fleets relatively quickly. The type is no longer in widespread commercial passenger service.

Notable operators

Emirates, Thai Airways, and Etihad Airways were among the primary operators of the A340-500, though most have since retired the type.

Notable facts

›The A340-500 held the record for the world's longest non-stop commercial flight when Singapore Airlines operated the SIN–LAX route (later replaced by A350-900ULR).
›Only 34 aircraft were built before production ended in 2008.
›Its range of approximately 16,670 km made it one of the longest-range airliners of its era.
›The type shares its fuselage cross-section and many systems with the A330 family.
›High operating costs due to four engines made it uncompetitive against twin-engine long-range aircraft.