Airbus A310

The Airbus A310 is a medium to long-range widebody airliner manufactured by Airbus S.A.S. It was Airbus' second model to be introduced, and is a shortened derivative of the A300. The A310 is marketed as an introduction to widebody operations for developing airlines. With the Airbus A330 now a success, further orders for the A310 are unlikely. Between 1983 and 1997, 255 A310s were delivered by Airbus. The A300 and A310 established Airbus as a competitor to Boeing and allowed it to go ahead with the more ambitious A330/A340 family.

Airbus A310 History
The A310-300 range exceeds all A300 models and the -200 exceeds all A300 models in range except the A300-600. This quality has led to the aircraft being used extensively on transatlantic routes. The A300 and A310 introduced the concept of commonality: A300-600 and A310 pilots can qualify for the other aircraft with one day of training.

Royal Jordanian Airbus A310-300


Like its sister aircraft, the A300, the A310 is reaching the end of its market life as a passenger and cargo aircraft. There have been no new A310 passenger orders since the late 1990s, and only a few freighter orders remain. The A310 (along with the A300) will cease production in July of 2007. Freighter sales are to be fulfilled by a new A330-200F derivative.

At the end of 1998 there had been 260 A310 orders and 255 delivered. The five unfilled orders were from Iraqi Airways.

A310 VIP transport aircraft for the leaders of the German government


The aircraft was formally launched in July 1978 for Lufthansa and Swissair. A further development of the A300, the aircraft was initially designated the A300 B10. Essentially a "baby" A300, the main differences in the two aircraft are:
* Shortened fuselage - same cross section, providing capacity of about 200.
* Redesigned wing - designed by British Aerospace who rejoined Airbus consortium
* Smaller vertical fin

The A310 is marketed as an introduction to widebody operations for developing airlines. With the Airbus A330 now a success, further orders for the A310 are unlikely. Between 1983 and 1997, 255 A310s were delivered by Airbus. The A300 and A310 established Airbus as a competitor to Boeing and allowed it to go ahead with the more ambitious A330/A340 family.

The A310 has also been used with the armed forces of many countries, including but not limited to:
* Belgium
* Canada - designated CC-150 Polaris
* France
* Germany
* Spain
* Thailand

Biman Bangladesh Airlines Airbus A310-300


Source: Wikipedia.org