The twin-engine A330 and the four-engine A340 were developed as a medium-capacity widebody family of aircraft for regional, long range, and ultra- long range routes. With over 320 firm orders from 41 different customers, the 330 and 340 series have established a market lead (44%)in the 250-350 seat category. The A340 is capable of flying non-stop with a full passenger load over longer routes than any other aircraft. The A340-200 typically carries 263 passengers in three classes while the larger A340-300 carries 295. The A340-8000, which will have a range of up to 8,000 miles, will be ready for service in 1997. Since entering service in 1993, the A340 has joined the fleets of 17 different airlines worlwide and has carried more than nine million passengers. Major operators include Airlanka, Kuwait Airways, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Gulf Air, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Austrian Airlines, Air Mauritius, Turk Hava Yollari, Air France, TAP Air Portugal, Iberia, and Sabena.

Airbus Industrie was formed in 1970 as a multinational effort between Germany, England and France to create a high-capicity twin-jet transport (this developed into the A300). Today Airbus Industrie has become the world's second largest manufacturer of civil airliners which seat over 100 passengers. In it's first 25 years Airbus has sold over 2,100 aircraft, with more than 1400 in service worldwide. The consortium is headquartered in southwest France near the city of Toulouse and owned by Europe's four leading aerospace companies (Aerospatiale of France, Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus of Germany, British Aerospace, and Casa of Spain).