ACB777 From Canada, joined Sep 2003, 350 posts, RR: 2 Posted (9 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 3629 times:
When do you think we'll see the A343 go out of production? For what reasons? Do you think it should go out of production The A342 has already sort of gone out of production. I think it should go out of production because in my opinion, I don't think its a good aircraft with those tiny, underpowered (this only my opinion!) engines and the slow climb. I think that the A340 - 500 and the A340 - 600 are great aircrafts because of the increased power, however. These two planes could lead airbus into the future. Do you think it would be wise for airlines that don't necessarily need the range of the A345 to get the A345 anyways instead of buying the A343?
N79969 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (9 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 3550 times:
If I am not mistaken, all 330/340 come off the same assembly line. So long as the line is open, there is no reason for the 343 to go out of production.
The A310 is technically still in production (though they have delivered any in a while) because they come off the still-active A300 line.
Jaws707 From United States of America, joined Aug 2001, 708 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (9 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 3468 times:
Its important to note that their are airlines who do not need the capacity of the A345 or A346, so the A343 still makes sense for them. For example if SAS wanted to expand their long haul fleet with a couple more A343's its nice for them to know that they can.
Airxliban From Lebanon, joined Oct 2003, 4491 posts, RR: 55 Reply 4, posted (9 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 3361 times:
Air India just ordered some A343s.
Swiss is still having some delivered.
I think that the engines look a bit ugly compared to the A346 and A345 dimensions. But what works, works!
Interestingly enough, despite the fact that the oldest A340s are what...around 10 years old...i still haven't flown on one. Probably because I fly BA too much.
I'll probably pick up a ride in one of the Swiss ones in the not to distant future. The only A330 i've been on is F-OMEC, one of MEA's 332s. I've been on it 3 times though!
they're nice planes. I do like Airbus' 2-4-2 plan. sure beats 2-5-2 on some 777's!
N754pr From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (9 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 3312 times:
What a silly topic!
Those tiny engines do the job, they get the aircraft off the ground and carry it to the destination, not to mention they can do so for 16 hours or so!!
Joni From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (9 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 3155 times:
I don't think Airbus is going to discontinue a major product because some members of this forum think the engines "look small". Besides, I seem to recall they recently launched a revamped version of the 343, which suggests they intend to keep selling them for the forseeable future.
Killerbabe From Netherlands, joined Aug 2003, 186 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (9 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 3116 times:
I hope never. We already saw the end of a number of other great planes like de MD-11 and de 757 and I hope that the production for the A343 will continue
Na From Germany, joined Dec 1999, 9614 posts, RR: 10 Reply 8, posted (9 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 3061 times:
Here they join again, the notorious one-eyed A340-bashers.
The A340-300 is the most comfortable airplane I´ve ever been on, more comfortable than a 777, and, yes, more comfortable than my beloved 744 because the Airbus is quieter (nothing can beat a 1st class seat in a 744´s nose though).
That the A340 is a slow climber I also like because I hate any kind of sudden moves in the air unless announced. I agree the engines of the A343 are not good-lookers.
"N79969"s point is right if to speculate about the A343s future life. There is no need to expect a closure anytime during the next years.
Even the A340-200 is still being offered although the chance of one being built is minimal. It´s as dead or alive as the 777-200"A" series.
RayChuang From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 7695 posts, RR: 5 Reply 9, posted (9 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 2771 times:
I think Airbus is seriously looking at phasing out the A340-200/300 series because Airbus is considering making improvements to the A330-200/300 that will substantially increase the range of the A330's, which will make the A340 superfluous. Besides, I think Airbus does want to push A340-500/600 sales instead.
Motech722 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 211 posts, RR: 3 Reply 11, posted (9 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 2698 times:
As others have said in this thread so far, as long as airlines are willing to purchase the A343, then Airbus will continue to build it. The A345/346 certainly are the newest aircraft in this family, but if they don't fit the requirements for the airline, then there is no need to spend the money to buy them if the A343 meets your needs.
There can always be speculation as to when the A343 or any other plane will go out of production, but its difficult to say. Who on here would have thought that this year Boeing would announce that the 757 line will come to an end? The threads about the end of the 757 showed that no one expected that, and the same can be said about the A343, no one really knows when the end of production will come.
ACB777, your opinion as to why the plane should go out of production is interesting, but since airlines think its a good aircraft even with those tiny, "underpowered" engines, I think we'll see the A343 in production for a while longer. The A343 fills a niche in air transport.
Lyzzard From Singapore, joined Nov 2003, 404 posts, RR: 15 Reply 12, posted (9 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 2604 times:
I used to fly A343s with Singapore Airlines... those tiny engines are by far the most economical powerplants on any major commercial airliner. They were always the butt of cruel airplane jokes... birdstrike from the rear, the only airplane with 5 APUs etc... Granted the power to weight ratio isn't very impressive, but they do get the job done, albeit at a leisurely pace. Fuel burn in cruise averages 6.5 tons/hr, compared to 10.5 tons/hr on a B744. We always end up with extra gas during our flights, even while stuck at lower levels or avoiding extensive weather enroute. I have nothing but praise for the A340 and quite look forward to flying the A345 when SIA eventually gets them next month. Incidentally, from the performance firgures I've seen, the A345 is definitely the sexier and sportier version of this wonderful airplane. Time to altitude is shorterened by almost 5 mins at MTOW, cruise is a tad faster (0.83 vs 0.82)... and the dimensions of the Trents suit the aircraft better than the old CFM56.
Richard28 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2003, 1570 posts, RR: 6 Reply 13, posted (9 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days ago) and read 2536 times:
Agree with Na - the A340 is the nicest longhauler - unless you're in the nose of the 744.
Don't forget that Swiss are having the "new" A340-300E version which has improved efficiency and (I believe) greater thrust.
I don't know how this improves the cruising speed/rate of climb - not that this particularly matters for passengers though - its all about comfort and price at the end of the day!
MD80Nut From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 871 posts, RR: 10 Reply 14, posted (9 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days ago) and read 2445 times:
Airlines don't care about the looks or slow climb performance of an aircraft. If the aircraft is reliable and profitable to operate, then the demand will be there. The A340-300 has proven to be both, so I figure as soon as the airline business starts to pick up you'll see more A340-300 orders as well as for other aircraft. The bottom line is the A340-300 has proven itself an excellent long range aircraft, it should remain popular with airlines needing a long haul aircraft that's smaller that the 747-400 and A340-500/600.
The A340-300 may have a slow climb rate, but so far that hasn't proven to be a problem for any airline. It's popular with passengers as well, so there's no reason to discontinue it!
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