Cathay Pacific · A340

Editorial overview · guide-level context, not configuration-verified specs.

Cathay Pacific’s last A340 touched down in Hong Kong on March 26, 2017 — CX469 from Taipei, registration B-HXJ, slipping out of service without fanfare. After more than two decades, Cathay’s four-engine Airbus quietly became history. No A340 has flown for the airline since.

Existing guide recommendations, not verified for the selected configuration. Confirm seat positions and availability with the airline. Source: aircraft guide.

Best seats

No recommendations supplied in this guide.

Seats to avoid

No recommendations supplied in this guide.

Verified configuration data

Provenance, configuration resolution and available map geometry are included below. Missing values remain unknown.

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    "dataset": "aircraft_specs.csv",
    "publication": "aircraft-configurations.snapshot.json",
    "externalSourceLinksMayBeMissing": true
  },
  "resolution": null,
  "configurations": [],
  "sharedAcrossConfigurations": null,
  "maps": []
}

Estimated previews

[]

Passenger evidence and Cabin analysis

{
  "passengerEvidence": {
    "status": "not_matched",
    "reports": [],
    "consensus": null
  },
  "cabinAnalysis": {
    "status": "not_synthesized",
    "recommendation": null
  }
}

Aircraft review context

Read the aircraft guide. Broader aircraft context; not canonical configuration specifications.

Existing published editorial text; not independently verified configuration data.

Two decades of four-engine Airbus flying

Cathay Pacific operated A340s from the 1990s on a mix of regional routes and thinner long-haul destinations. The type was gradually displaced as more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft entered the fleet — four-engine economics became increasingly difficult to justify as ETOPS operations matured.

What flies Cathay Pacific’s routes now

The A350 family replaced the A340 on Cathay’s network. The A350-1000 is the current long-haul flagship.

Cathay Pacific A350-1000 seat guide · Cathay Pacific 777-300ER seat guide

Frequently asked questions

Does Cathay Pacific still fly the A340?

No. Last flight March 26, 2017 (CX469, Taipei–Hong Kong, registration B-HXJ). Retired without any farewell ceremony.

What replaced the Cathay Pacific A340?

The A350-1000 on long-haul routes; the 777-300ER and A350-900 on the broader network.

Why did Cathay Pacific retire the A340?

Four-engine aircraft became uneconomical as twin-engine ETOPS flying matured. The A350 offered the same or better range with two engines and significantly lower fuel burn.

Limitations

Select and confirm the configuration with the airline; no live flight matching.
Unknown configuration status does not establish current fleet operation.
Do not substitute estimated layouts or editorial prose for verified seat geometry.