From the smallest of beginnings, the A300/A310 Family has grown to be the most popular mid-size airliner family in the world. A300s and A310s are operated by more airlines in more countries than any competing aircraft. Most significant in this success, is their proven reliability with a wide variety of customers around the world: major national flag carriers, regional charter airlines, airlines opting for their first widebody and military operators.
In the 1970s, as widebody services were becoming a feature of long-haul travel, the A300 pioneered the twin-aisle, twin-engine airliner configuration. It was the first twin-aisle aircraft optimized for demanding regional operations, combining the low cost per seat of a twin-aisle airliner with the low cost per trip of a twin-engined aircraft.
The A300-600 and A310 are advanced developments of the original A300B2/B4, and are still the only true widebody aircraft in this class. The key design feature is the optimized 222-inch (5.64m) fuselage cross-section, the widest in its class. It gives exceptional passenger comfort and cabin layout flexibility, offering from 6-abreast to 9-abreast seating, and unlike competitors, carries industry-standard LD3 containers side-by-side in the holds.
It is this same highly efficient cross-section which has paved the way to worldwide success of both new and converted A300 and A310 aircraft in the competitive all-freight market.
The A300/A310 Family have been outstanding pioneers in such valuable innovative technological features as fuel-reducing wingtip devices, identical CRT displays on the flight deck, automatic windshear protection and digital electrical signalling (fly-by-wire) for slats, flaps and spoilers - reducing workload, maintenance and saving weight. Both aircraft are certificated for up to 180-minutes ETOPS operations, with both General Electric CF6-80 or Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines.
This widebody twin-engined, twin-aisle aircraft Family:
• delivers high profitability in the demanding 220-360 seat market;
• operates cost-effectively on extended-range routes;
• meets the needs of the rapidly expanding cargo markets;
• offers airlines low-risk transition into the widebody market. |
