Airbus A340-500/600 fleet profile: Lufthansa, Iberia retain large fleets, Asian airlines retire them

In 2015 Thai Airways and China Eastern retired their A340-600 fleets. of the 132 A340-500/600s produced, 89 were recently in active service. Lufthansa and Iberia account for 46% of the in-service fleet. Together with three more airlines - Etihad, Virgin Atlantic and South African Airways - they account for 81% of the in-service fleet.

Lufthansa's A340-600 fleet will be phased out as they age, with the airline's 2025 fleet to comprise the A380, 747-8i, 777X, A350 and A330. Iberia is retaining its A340-600s to serve the hot and high destinations of Mexico City, San Jose, Bogota and Quito. Iberia's Madrid-Mexico City service is the largest A340-500/600 route based on ASKs. South African Airways' Johannesburg-New York JFK flight is the longest by distance, and SAA is hoping for a replacement aircraft for the fuel-thirsty flight.

The A340-500/600 is fading from the Gulf as Emirates retires its fleet, while Etihad and Qatar use their types on fewer long haul services.