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Airbus delivers last-ever A300

DUBAI — The last A300 to leave the Airbus Final Assembly Line, an A300 Freighter, was delivered to FedEx on July 12. Over the life of the programme a total of 821 A300/A310 have been ordered and to date there are more than 630 A300s and A310s in service with about 80 operators.

Airbus' long-term fleet support programme will continue to enable their operation until the very last aircraft is retired from service, with half of the current fleet expected still to be in service beyond 2025. With more than 120 A300s and A310s aircraft currently in service, FedEx is a long-standing operator and the largest customer for these aircraft types.

The Airbus A300, launched in May 1969 and entering service with Air France in May 1974, was the very first wide-body, twin-engine aircraft ever brought to the market. It set totally new standards in the industry. The innovative two-man glass cockpit was implemented on the A310, launched in July 1978 and entering service in April 1983 with Lufthansa and Swissair. "Time has proven to us that the A300s and A310s were excellent choices for our fleet," said Jim Parker, senior vice-president of air operations at FedEx Express.