The Airbus A340 has developed something of a cult status in aviation. Using Cirium data to examine all scheduled flights on the type between October 2024 and August 2025 indicates that Germany is the leading country, entirely because of 
Lufthansa
. That’s unsurprising: it is the world’s largest user of the A340-300 and A340-600. Half of the German giant’s A340 flights are to the US.
Iran is second, mainly thanks to Iran Aseman and Mahan Air. The US is third, with one in nine of the world’s A340 flights, all operated by Edelweiss
, Lufthansa, and SWISS
. However, SWISS’s A340 US services are decreasing fast, with only Zurich-Miami still on the type.
The world’s 10 longest A340 routes
The table below shows them, with non-stop and one-stop, same-plane, same-flight-number services included. Unsurprisingly, all of them are by Lufthansa and Edelweiss. The latter will begin Zurich-Seattle flights next June, but it is not long enough to be included. It ranks 16th longest globally.
The only two US entries are Frankfurt to Los Angeles and Zurich to Las Vegas. However, Edelweiss’ incoming Airbus A350-900s will take over Sin City flights in May 2025, replacing the gas-guzzling but very characterful quadjet. After that, the US will only have one A340-operated route—unless things change again.
Photo: Michael Derrer Fuchs | Shutterstock
The contents are based on information as of September 18 but may change, especially for next year. Notice how remarkably similar many routes are on a Great Circle basis, with real-world operations undoubtedly changing the order.
|
Nautical miles (km) |
Airport pair |
Airline |
Comments (October-August) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
5,253 (9,729) |
Zurich-Bogota-Cartagena |
Edelweiss |
Winter seasonal route. The A340-300 returns on November 2 and operates twice-weekly |
|
5,154 (9,546) |
Frankfurt-Rio de Janeiro Galeão |
Lufthansa |
The A340-300 runs five times weekly until October 26, when the 787-9 will take over. The A340-300 will return on March 30 (daily) |
|
5,142 (9,523) |
Zurich-San Jose (Costa Rica)-Liberia |
Edelweiss |
A340-300 twice-weekly year-round. Operates triangularly: Zurich-San Jose-Liberia-Zurich |
|
5,055 (9,362) |
Zurich-San Jose (Costa Rica) |
Edelweiss |
A340-300 weekly year-round terminator. Operates to San Jose and then vice versa. Exists alongside the above triangular service |
|
5,053 (9,358) |
Frankfurt-Cape Town |
Lufthansa |
Six times weekly A340-300 in the northern winter and five times weekly in the northern summer |
|
5,045 (9,344) |
Frankfurt-Los Angeles |
Lufthansa |
A340-300 daily from May 1, 2025. It’ll coexist with a daily 747-8 service. Want tickets? Get them here! |
|
5,039 (9,333) |
Zurich-Phuket |
Edelweiss |
The winter seasonal route will resume on October 27, with the A340-300 deployed. Twice-weekly to three times weekly flights |
|
4,965 (9,194) |
Zurich-Las Vegas |
Edelweiss |
Summer seasonal route. Three weekly A340-300 flights until October 29, then it returns on March 28, twice weekly. Click here to fly! The A350-900 is scheduled to replace it on May 15 |
|
4,951 (9,169) |
Frankfurt-Hong Kong |
Lufthansa |
To ensure consistency, the distance is also based on the Great Circle. But as Lufthansa cannot overfly Russia, the real-world distance means it’d cover around 9% more ground and would be number one globally; such is the problem of creating these lists! |
|
4,908 (9,089) |
Frankfurt-Bogota |
Lufthansa |
The A340-300 is used until October 25 (the A340-600 sometimes appears), with the 787-9 operating during the winter. The A340-300 returns on March 30 |