The A300-600 and A310 share the same basic airframe, and were the first jetliners with Airbus’ 222-inch fuselage cross-section – the widest of any aircraft in their size category. The A300 entered revenue service first, followed by the shorter-fuselage A310.

Both have a Common Type Rating for flight crews, allowing pilots qualified on one type to qualify to fly the other with a simple difference training. This commonality also applies to the engineers who maintain the aircraft – enabling pilots and engineers to use the same training simulator systems and training aids.

The same choice of engines is available for the A300-600 and A310: the General Electric CF6-80C2 and Pratt & Whitney’s PW4000. Each engine is offered at power ratings best suited to the particular version’s design weights. With both powerplants, the A300-600 and A310 are fully certified for up to 180 minutes extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS), which permits their use on routes over water and across remote regions of the globe.