"A300" redirects here. For other uses, see A300 (disambiguation).    Airbus A300The A300 has two underwing podded turbofans, making it the first twinjet wide-body airliner. Seen here operated by Iran Air in 2011, its largest remaining passenger operator as of 2025.General informationRole Wide-body airlinerNational origin France and West GermanyManufacturer AirbusStatus In limited passenger service, in cargo servicePrimary users FedEx ExpressUPS AirlinesEuropean Air Transport LeipzigMahan AirNumber built 561[1]HistoryManufactured 1971–2007Introduction date 23 May 1974 with Air FranceFirst flight 28 October 1972; 52 years agoDeveloped into Airbus A310Airbus A330Airbus A340A300-600ST BelugaThe Airbus A300 is Airbus' first production aircraft and the world's first twin-engine, double-aisle (wide-body) airliner. It was developed by Airbus Industrie GIE, now merged into Airbus SE, and manufactured from 1971 to 2007. In September 1967, aircraft manufacturers in France, West Germany and the United Kingdom signed an initial memorandum of understanding to collaborate to develop an innovative large airliner. The French and West Germans reached a firm agreement on 29 May 1969, after the British withdrew from the project on 10 April 1969. A new collaborative aerospace company, Airbus Industrie GIE, was formally created on 18 December 1970 to develop and produce it. The A300 prototype first flew on 28 October 1972. The first twin-engine widebody airliner, the A300 typically seats 247 passengers in two classes over a range of 5,375 to 7,500 km (2,900 to 4,050 nmi; 3,340 to 4,660 mi).   Initial variants are powered by General Electric CF6-50 or Pratt & Whitney JT9D turbofans and have a three-crew flight deck. The improved A300-600 has a two-crew cockpit and updated CF6-80C2 or PW4000 engines; it made its first flight on 8 July 1983 and entered service later that year. The A300 is the basis of the smaller A310 (first flown in 1982) and was adapted in a freighter version. Its cross s