WHY THE A340 CHAPTER CLOSED WHILE THE A330 CONTINUED
The shared origins of the A330 and A340 did not guarantee matching lifetimes. EADS reported the termination of the A340 programme at the end of 2011, while making clear that customer support would continue. In the same review, it described strong A330 demand and plans to increase that aircraft's production rate. The contrast belongs in the history: commonality is valuable, but does not make two products equally attractive in a changing airline market. [196, Printed p.42; A330 demand and A340 programme termination]
Programme closure is not retirement from service. A factory may stop building new aircraft while completed examples await delivery and existing fleets continue flying. The end of the A340 programme therefore increased the importance of continuing support; it did not make the type disappear from airline operations. [196, Printed p.42; A340 programme termination and continuing support]