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Airbus A310 History

The A310’s 222-inch fuselage cross-section is the widest in its category, giving passengers as much space as possible and delivering a feeling of comfort throughout the aircraft. The unmatched flexibility of this jetliner’s seating arrangements – which can accommodate between 190 and 230 passengers in a typical three-class layout – allows operators to customise the A310 cabin to best suit their needs and market requirements.

Advanced technologies

The A310 helped pioneer the use of composites in commercial jetliners, with its vertical stabiliser built with carbon-fibre materials that offer significant weight savings over conventional metallic structures. Other major applications of composites on the A310 include floor struts and panels, spoilers and main landing gear doors.

Wide-body comfort

The A310’s 222-inch fuselage cross-section is the widest in its category; giving passengers as much space as possible and delivering a feeling of comfort throughout the aircraft. The unmatched flexibility of this jetliner’s seating arrangements – combined with galley, lavatory and attendant seat location options – allows operators to customise the A310 cabin to best suit their needs and market requirements. Passenger comfort is further enhanced with large overhead storage for optimal carry-on baggage capacity, while the A310’s cabin air system provides draught-free air conditioning – with temperature control in three separate cabin areas. 

Capable of incorporating modern in-flight entertainment options, the A310 continues to represent Airbus’ high quality standards of design and comfort. Everyone who flies on an A310 can simply relax and enjoy the flight.

Economic advantages

 

With a commercial service entry in 1982, the A310 jetliner was designed to accommodate 220 passengers in a two-class layout, while utilising digital avionics and an active centre-of-gravity control system.

Airbus’ A310 is the most profitable jetliner in its class, with lower operating costs and better economy than any other airliner in the 200-seat category. Since its service entry in 1983, the aircraft has provided maximum flexibility for operators – flying short-, medium- and extended-range routes with a high-degree of reliability.

The groundbreaking A310 accommodates between 190 and 230 passengers in a typical three-class layout, at a range of up to 5,200 nautical miles. The A310’s two engine options – General Electric’s CF6-80C2 and the PW4000 from Pratt & Whitney provide reduced fuel-burn along with lower noise levels and CO2 emissions.

Cost-efficient technologies

During its production run, orders for this wide-body jetliner reached 255, with a large majority of them still in operation around the world. This durability proves once again the long history of excellence that is at the heart of Airbus’ design and manufacture process. Today’s aircraft continue to build on these foundations of innovation.

Progress has always been at the heart of Airbus’ business. Key innovations utilised throughout the A310 result in improved safety, enhanced operational efficiency and reduced costs for operators. This technology includes fully-digital avionics; electrically-signalled flaps, slats and spoilers; a new-generation auxiliary power unit; and an active centre-of-gravity control system.

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