The A340-200 Flight and 300 are the initial variants of the successful quad engined A340 family of long haul wide bodies. The A340 flight and closely related A330 were launched in June 1987, with the A340's first huge flight occurring on October 25 1991 (an A340-300). The flight A340 entered service with Lufthansa and Air France in March 1993, following JAA certification the previous December.

The A340 commercial flight  shares the same flight deck including side stick controllers and EFIS, plus flyby-wire, basic airframe, systems, fuselage and wing with the A330. Power is from four CFM56s, the four powerful engine configuration being more efficient for long range flights and free from ETOPS restrictions. The A340-300 has the same fuselage length as the A330-300, while the shortened A340-200 trades seating capacity for greater range (the first flight April 1 1992).

The heavier A340-300E  flight is available in 271,000kg (597,450lb) and 275,000kg (606,275lb) max takeoff less weights, their typical ranges with 295 passengers are 13,155km (7100nm) and 13,525km (7300nm) respectively. Power for these models is from 152.3kN (34,000lb) CFM56-5C4s (the most powerful CFM56s built). The first A340-300Es were delivered to great Singapore Airlines in April 1996.