Friday Feature

Airbus A340-200

MSN 004 (1) F/F 4/1/92 Airbus test aircraft #1 F-WWBA

The A340-200 was the first quad jet produced by Airbus, and entered service on January 29th 1993. It's larger sister, the A340-300 followed shortly thereafter on February 26th 1993. Of the two models, the -300 was more popular, with 216 delivered, versus only 28 -200 deliveries. Both aircraft shared a production line with the twin engined A330 (first delivery December 30th 1993), with the latter far more successful. 375 A340s (of all variants) were delivered, while some 1,350 A330s have been delivered to date, with production continuing.

A340 production ended at the end of 2010, although two "white tails" built for failed Kingfisher Airlines in 2008, were eventually delivered at the end of 2012. This feature though will focus on the 28 A340-200s built between 1992 and 1998. As noted above the aircraft shared the production line with other A340s and A330s. Serial numbers listed are in build order (not necessarily delivery date order). Every A340-200 operator and aircraft is listed and pictured. It's unlikely we'll see many, if any additions to this niche fleet, apart from continued retirements and a few movements between VIP / Government operators.

MSN 004 (1) F/F 4/1/92 History: 1 operator (following prototype flight testing. Current Status: In Service

Airbus F-WWBA 4/92 - 2/97

Government of Saudi Arabia HZ-124 2/97 - Current

MSN 006 (2) F/F 7/20/92 History: 2 operators Current Status: Stored Lourdes

Lufthansa D-AIBF 11/93 - 10/03

South African Airways 6/04 - 6/14

MSN 008 (3) F/F 1/29/93 History: 2 operators. Status: permanently retired Johannesburg

Lufthansa D-AIBA 1/93 - 1/03

South African Airways ZS-SLA 4/03 - 6/11

MSN 009 (4) F/F 1/13/93 History: 3 operators. Status: In Service

Sultan of Brunei V8-BKH 3/93 - 4/96

Sultan of Brunei V8-JP1 4/96 - 9/97

Sultan of Brunei V8-AM1 9/97 - 8/00

Government of Jordan JY-ABH 8/00 - 8/08

Ajwa Aviation HZ-AJ1 10/09 - 7/14 (Stored / In refurbishment)

Alpha Star HZ-A1 7/14 - 1/16

Sky Prime Air HZ-SKY1 1/16 - Current

MSN 010 (5) F/F 3/18/93 History: 1 operator. Status: Destroyed by fire 1/20/94

Air France F-GNIA 5/93 - 1/94

MSN 011 (6) F/F 2/3/93 History: 2 operators. Status: Stored Lourdes

Lufthansa D-AIBC 4/93 - 5/03

South African Airways ZS-SLB 6/03 - 7/11

MSN 014 (7) F/F 4/1/93 History: 3 operators Status: permanently retired Lourdes

Air France F-GNIB 6/93 - 6/96

Sabena OO-SCW 6/96 - 11/01

Royal Jordanian Airlines JY-AIC 7/03 - 2/15

MSN 018 (8) F/F 7/10/93 History: 2 operators. Status: Stored Lourdes

Lufthansa D-AIBD 7/93 - 7/03

South African Airways ZS-SLC 8/03 - 5/12

MSN 019 (9) F/F 7/2/93 History: 2 operators. Status: permanently retired Lourdes

Lufthansa D-AIBE 8/93 - 8/03

South African Airways ZS-SLD 9/03 - 11/11

MSN 021 (10) F/F 8/6/93 History: 2 operators. Status: permanently retired Lourdes

Lufthansa D-AIBH 10/93 - 10/03

South African Airways ZS-SLE 11/03 - 4/11

MSN 022 (11) F/F 5/24/93 History: 3 operators. Status: permanently retired Lourdes

Air France F-GNIC 6/93 - 4/96

Sabena OO-SCX 4/96 - 11/01

Royal Jordanian Airlines JY-AID 7/03 - 10/14

MSN 026 (12) F/F 4/23/93 History: 1 operator. Status: In Service

Qatar Amiri Flight A7-HHK 5/93 - Current

MSN 031 (13) F/F 7/23/93 History: 5 operators. Status: Stored Caracas

Air France F-GLZD 10/93 - 10/98

Air Tahiti Nui F-OITN 11/98 - 2/03

Air Bourbon F-OITN 5/03 - 11/04

Air Europa EC-JGU 4/05 - 6/06

Conviasa YV1004 3/07 - Current (Stored)

MSN 038 (14) F/F 12/1/93 History: 4 operators. Status: permanently retired Lourdes

Air France F-GLZE 2/94 - 3/99

AOM French Airlines F-GLZE 3/99 -10/01

Air Lib F-GLZE 10/01 - 3/02
Remained in AOM colors

Royal Jordanian Airlines JY-AIA 7/02 - 11/14

MSN 043 (15) F/F 2/2/94 History: 4 operators. Status: permanently retired Lourdes

Air France F-GLZF 3/94 - 1/99

AOM French Airlines F-GLZF 2/99 - 10/01

Air Lib F-GLZF 10/01 - 3/02

Royal Jordanian Airlines JY-AIB 8/02 - 11/14

MSN 046 (16) F/F 3/31/94 History: 1 operator. Status: In Service

Government of Brunei V8-BKH 4/96 - 8/14 (also registered V8-PJB 3/94 - 4/96)

Government of Brunei V8-001 8/14 - Current

MSN 061 (17) F/F 4/21/94 History: 1 operator. Status: In Service

Government of Egypt SU-GGG 2/95 - Current

MSN 063 (18) F/F 9/14/94 History: 3 operators. Status: stored Victorville, CA

Cathay Pacific VR-HMR 10/94 - 9/96

Philippine Airlines F-OHPF 11/96 - 10/98

Aerolineas Argentinas LV-ZPO 6/99 - 9/14

MSN 074 (19) F/F 10/27/94 History: 3 operators. Status: storeed Victorville, CA

Cathay Pacific VR-HMS 11/94 - 11/96

Philippine Airlines F-OHPF 1/97 - 10/98

Aerolineas Argentinas LV-ZPJ 6/99 - 8/14

MSN 075 (20) F/F 2/2/95 History: 2 operators. Status: In Service

Austrian Airlines OE-LAG 2/95 - 12/06

French Air Force F-RAJA 12/06 - Current

MSN 080 (21) F/F 12/5/94 History: 3 operators. Status: stored Victorville, CA

Cathay Pacific VR-HMT 2/95 - 1/97

Philippine Airlines F-OHPH 3/97 - 10/98

Aerolineas Argentinas LV-ZPX 7/99 - 8/14

MSN 081 (22) F/F 2/7/95 History: 2 operators. Status: In Service

Austrian Airlines OE-LAH 2/95 - 5/06

French Air Force F-RAJB 5/06 - Current

MSN 085 (23) F/F 3/3/95 History: 3 operators. Status: stored Buenos Aires

Cathay Pacific VR-HMU 4/95 - 2/97

Philippine Airlines F-OHPI 3/97 - 10/99

Aerolineas Argentinas LV-ZRA 12/89 - 3/14

MSN 151 (24) F/F 10/11/96 History: 4 operators. Status: stored Perpignan

Government of Brunei V8-JBB 10/96 - 3/00

Kingdom Holding HZ-WBT4 3/00 - 10/06

Afriqiyah Airways 5A-ONE 10/06 - 9/13

Government of Libya 5A-ONE 9/13 - Currrent (Stored)

MSN 156 (25) F/F 11/8/96 History: 2 operators. Status: In Service

Egyptair SU-GBM 11/96 - 10/14

Air Leisure SU-GBM 7/15 - Current

MSN 159 (26) F/F 12/20/96 History: 2 operators. Status: In Service

Egyptair SU-GBN 12/96 - 2/15

Air Leisure SU-GBN 2/15 - Current

MSN 178 (27) F/F 6/11/97 History: 2 operators. Status: In Service

Egyptair SU-GBO 6/97 - 12/14

Air Leisure SU-GBO 12/14 - Current

MSN 204 (28) F/F 12/19/97 History: 1 operator. Status: In Service

Government of Saudi Arabia HZ-HMS2 2/07 - Current
[Registered HZ-HMS 2/07 - 12/10]

A340-200 Statistics
Delivered: 28
In Service: 11
Stored: 9
Retired: 7
Written Off: 1
Total: 28