Airbus’s first aircraft, the A300, is still going strong 40 years after entering service.
Air France placed the first A300B into commercial service four decades ago on May 12 1974. Airbus would go on to build some 878 A300s – the world’s first widebody twin airliner – through until mid-2007, and says more than 400 of these remain in service today with 65 operators.
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The A300 was the first Airbus to be flown by a local carrier, when Trans-Australia Airlines took delivery of VH-TAA at Tullamarine airport on July 13 1981. TAA, which later became Australian Airlines and then Qantas, operated up to five A300B4s in the 1980s and 1990s. Further A300s were operated in Australia by the short-lived Compass Airlines, which operated four A300-600Rs in 1990-1991.
“The success of that program and the philosophy to innovate has been the cornerstone of Airbus’s ongoing success story,” Airbus said in a statement.
All of TAA’s A300 are still operational. Converted to freighters several years ago:
VH-TAA\TAC\TAD\TAE all fly with Midex Airlines of the UAE as A6-MDF\MDA\MDB\MDC, respectively. VH-TAB is now registered EP-IBI and flies with Iran Air.
Also Compass Mk.1 leased two A300 from Monarch Airlines. These aircraft (VH-YMJ/K) were still flying with Monarch until last year when they were withdrawn and scrapped.
Not bad for 30 year old aircraft.
Mitchell
says:
Definitely my favourite product from Toulouse…there’s just something about it. It’s a shame that the early Airbus products didn’t fly through the order books and down to Oz in any great magnitude.
Regularly disgruntled Virgin Australia passenger says
says:
@the_angry_confused_man: The 767’s were a better aircraft as Qantas got rid of their A300’s a long time ago but kept the 767’s.
John Harrison
says:
Ah yes the good old AB300, I think I first flew in an Air France one back in late 1976s LHR to CDG and back,
a couple of times. Then in Australia with TAA and Qantas, mainly SYD-MEL but I do remember travelling to
OOL in a QF one. I always thought they were a bit like flying in a barn, big and roomie and high ceilings.
Thanks for the memories.
iscover
Regularly disgruntled Qantas passenger
says:Was the A300 a ‘better’ aircraft than B767?
Greg
says:All of TAA’s A300 are still operational. Converted to freighters several years ago:
VH-TAA\TAC\TAD\TAE all fly with Midex Airlines of the UAE as A6-MDF\MDA\MDB\MDC, respectively. VH-TAB is now registered EP-IBI and flies with Iran Air.
Also Compass Mk.1 leased two A300 from Monarch Airlines. These aircraft (VH-YMJ/K) were still flying with Monarch until last year when they were withdrawn and scrapped.
Not bad for 30 year old aircraft.
Mitchell
says:Definitely my favourite product from Toulouse…there’s just something about it. It’s a shame that the early Airbus products didn’t fly through the order books and down to Oz in any great magnitude.
Regularly disgruntled Virgin Australia passenger says
says:@the_angry_confused_man: The 767’s were a better aircraft as Qantas got rid of their A300’s a long time ago but kept the 767’s.
John Harrison
says:Ah yes the good old AB300, I think I first flew in an Air France one back in late 1976s LHR to CDG and back,
a couple of times. Then in Australia with TAA and Qantas, mainly SYD-MEL but I do remember travelling to
OOL in a QF one. I always thought they were a bit like flying in a barn, big and roomie and high ceilings.
Thanks for the memories.