IATA AB3ICAO A30B

Airbus A300

Airbus

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The world's first twin-engine wide-body airliner.

First flight

1972

Category

Wide-body jet

Seating

250–300 passengers (typical)

Range

7,700 km

Engines

Two underwing turbofan engines (GE CF6 or Pratt & Whitney JT9D / PW4000)

Status

In service (primarily freighter)

The Airbus A300 was a landmark commercial aircraft developed by the European Airbus consortium, making its first flight in 1972 and entering airline service in 1974. It was the first wide-body jet powered by only two engines, a significant departure from the three- and four-engine wide-bodies of the era, and the first product of what would become one of the world's dominant airliner manufacturers. Designed for short to medium-haul high-density routes, the A300 featured a wide twin-aisle cabin capable of carrying up to around 300 passengers. It proved popular with carriers seeking efficient capacity on busy routes, and several variants were developed, including the extended-range A300-600 series. Production of the A300 concluded in 2007, with the type gradually retiring from passenger service thereafter. However, it found continued relevance as a freighter conversion, operating with cargo carriers worldwide. The A300 laid the technological and commercial foundation for Airbus's subsequent product family.

Notable operators

Major operators included Air France, Lufthansa, Eastern Air Lines, Korean Air, China Eastern Airlines, and FedEx (freighter).

Notable facts

›First wide-body airliner to use only two engines.
›First aircraft designed and built by the Airbus consortium, formally established in 1970.
›The A300-600R variant introduced an extended range with additional center fuel tank.
›Many retired passenger A300s were converted to freighters and continue to operate in that role.
›The A300's fuselage cross-section was later used as the basis for the A310, A330, and A340.