The first A340-600 in airline livery was showcased at a ceremony at Farnborough Air Show, held by Airbus and…
The first A340-600 in airline livery was showcased at a ceremony at Farnborough Air Show, held by Airbus and launch customer
Airbus` A340-600 was especially designed for high capacity long-haul operations and can carry some 380 passengers over a range of up to 13,900km/7,500nm. A fully-fledged member of Airbus` market leading A330/A340 Family, it provides operators with unrivalled standards of space, comfort and amenity in each cabin class. The A340-600 features a breathtaking new cabin design with expanded on-board services and sleek, harmonious lines that further enhance the A340s inherent qualities of spaciousness and quietness – a key element of passenger comfort in long-haul air travel. Virgin`s layout also features a number of innovative amenities such as a redesigned bar and inflight beauty therapy area in Upper Class. In total, Virgin`s A340-600 will seat 311 passengers – 50 in Upper Class, 28 Premium Economy and 233 Economy.
This new aircraft is great news for our passengers who will benefit from new products and services onboard including new seats and inflight entertainment, said Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Atlantic. We are delighted to be able to showcase our new aircraft at Farnborough and I`m sure the A340-600 will be an international success.
It gives me great pleasure that Virgin Atlantic, an airline that shares Airbus` taste for innovation and excellence, should be the first carrier to receive the A340-600. I know that Virgin Atlantic will take full advantage of the A340-600`s great potential, said Noel Forgeard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Airbus. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all Airbus` employees, customers and suppliers who helped to make this new aircraft a reality, he added.
The A340-600, like the ultra-long range A340-500, is powered by four high bypass ratio Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines that burn up to 20 per cent less fuel than older generation jets while providing the aircraft with an outstanding performance not attainable by competing aircraft. Airbus` four-engine A340s also comply fully with the latest stringent QC2 noise quota limits at London Heathrow Airport and offer total freedom of flight, unrestricted by ETOPS (the rules governing the operation of twin-engine aircraft on very long flights). This allows them to fly more direct routes, saving travel time, cutting fuel consumption and reducing costs. In addition, the A340-600 offers twice as much cargo capacity as today`s jumbo-jets, allowing airlines to benefit from more revenue generating cargo operations.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
