The world has a new Airbus A340 operator: SpiceJet will be the 8th active airline flying the quadjet
September 26, 2025
Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet has revealed plans to induct its first passenger widebody as part of a move to increase capacity. But it’s not just any widebody that SpiceJet will welcome, but a rare four-engined Airbus A340.
The aircraft will be acquired on a wet-lease basis, potentially moving to damp lease further down the line. According to ANI, the airline anticipates inducting the Airbus widebody by the end of September.
Spicejet Chief Business Officer Debojo Maharshi said the airline was ‘thrilled’ to introduce the A340 as part of its efforts to enhance service offerings and expand both its domestic and international networks.
“With another A340 under negotiation and 18 Boeing 737 aircraft joining our fleet soon, SpiceJet is poised for one of its most ambitious growth phases,” Maharshi added.
The airline said talks for a second Airbus A340 are ‘advanced,’ but did not specify a delivery date.
The move comes under a shadow as the airline had to delay some staff salaries this month due to cashflow problems
SpiceJet will become the world’s 8th active Airbus A340 operator
The A340 was never as successful as some of its Airbus siblings. Nevertheless, the family sold 377 units over its 20-year production run, with the A340-300 selling especially well at 218 aircraft.
Today, this quadjet is something of a rarity in the skies. While some survive in VIP and government roles, fewer than 50 are believed to be in passenger service. Lufthansa continues to be the leading commercial airline for A340 flights; according to Planespotters data, it has 22 still in service.
Around 45 airlines have operated the A340 over the years. According to AvGeekery, that number today stands at just seven. Under SpiceJet’s plan, it will become the 8th active operator of the Airbus A340, making this rare but capable aircraft accessible to a whole new demographic of flyers.
For SpiceJet’s route map, long-term use of the A340 will open a world of possibilities. While the airline is currently restricted to flying domestic and near-international services, the Airbus A340-300 with its massive range of 6,700 nautical miles puts essentially the whole world in reach, apart from some parts of the US and South America
What do we know about SpiceJet’s Airbus A340?
Unfortunately, SpiceJet’s statement didn’t reveal too much about the specific aircraft plans, not even the aircraft type. However, according to Planespotters data, SpiceJet has a little experience with the Airbus A340 already.
Back in the pandemic, SpiceJet leased an Airbus A340-300 ‘preighter’ (passenger aircraft converted for freight) from Hi Fly Malta for around 18 months.
Since then, it has had its hands on the widebody quadjet on three other occasions. In May and June 2024, it worked with Legend Airlines to lay on an Airbus A340-300 for Hajj. Again, in May and June 2025, it contracted Legend’s Airbus A340-300, but this time it took two.
From Legend, SpiceJet has operated all three of its Airbus A340-300s. Given the provider’s experience with SpiceJet and the airline’s need for a wet-lease service to start, it wouldn’t be unexpected if Legend was brought in again to supply the aircraft.
Romanian company Legend Airlines has three A340-300s, tail numbers YR-LRC, LRD and LRE. They’re aged between 17 and 18 years old, and are configured in an all-economy 324-seat arrangement.
Whether Legend steps in to provide widebody services for SpiceJet longer term remains to be seen, but it would be the logical conclusion at this point.
