A340 cabin guide

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

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.