Summary
- The A300-600F is the most common variant still in operation, with FedEx Express and UPS Airlines having the largest fleets.
- Iran is home to several active passenger-configured A300-300R jets due to sanctions preventing the acquisition of newer aircraft.
- The cargo variant of the A300-600R, designated as the A300-600R(F), is also prevalent, with FedEx Express and DHL subsidiary EAT Leipzig having significant fleets.
The A300 was the first aircraft produced on a commercial scale by Airbus, as well as being the first widebody twin-engine passenger jet ever made. While the model is now past its prime, a handful of airlines still operate the type in various pockets of the world. Let's take a look and see who exactly they are.
The A300-600F is the dominant variant today
Of the 561 A300 family jets that Airbus produced over the years, data from ch-aviation.com shows that 157 examples remain active today, spread across 17 carriers. Of these, the most common model is the cargo-carrying A300-600F, of which 94 units are listed as active. A good chunk of these can be found at FedEx Express, which has 38 active examples and another four that are inactive.
As large as this fleet is, it is outranked by that of UPS Airlines, which presently has a whopping 48 active A300-600Fs at its disposal. The carrier also has another four inactive examples, with their average age being 20.8 years old.
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There are also three smaller A300-600F operators left, with the next-largest fleet belonging to Air Hong Kong, which has six active examples at its disposal. Finally, EAT Leipzig and MNG Airlines have one active A300-600F apiece.
Iranian passenger-carrying A300-600Rs
For avgeeks still wanting to travel on an Airbus A300, Iran is the place to go, as sanctions have prevented its airlines from acquiring newer jets. The country is home to seven active passenger-configured A300-300R jets, of which three can be found at national flag carrier Iran Air. Another two are operated by Qeshm Airlines, with Meraj Air and Iran Airtour Airlines each having one active example.
Cargo-carrying A300-600Rs are also prevalent
As it happens, the cargo variant of the A300-600R, designated as the A300-600R(F), remains widespread today, with 49 active examples spread across seven different carriers worldwide. Once again, FedEx Express is a front-runner in this regard, with 21 active units and another three in storage or maintenance.
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As pictured above, DHL subsidiary EAT Leipzig is also a big fan of the A300-600R(F), with 18 active and four inactive examples in its fleet, with an average age of 29.4 years old. Smaller operators of the type include the likes of ASL Airlines Ireland and MNG Airlines (three active units apiece), Solinair (two active examples), and AeroUnion and SM Executive Aviation (one active unit each).
Less common variants
The remaining variants of the A300 family are relatively low in number, such as the two active A300-600ST 'Beluga' freighters that Airbus itself flies. Meanwhile, three active A300B4(F) jets can be found at the same number of carriers, with AeroStan, Easy Charter, and Moalem Aviation having one active example apiece.
As it happens, Moalem Aviation, a Kyrgyzstan-based cargo carrier, also has a single active example of the A300C4 at its disposal. Last but not least, the aforementioned Iran Air also flies the sole active example of a passenger-carrying A300B4. Registered as EP-IBG, this 39.2-year-old twinjet has the capacity to seat a total of 237 economy and 17 business class passengers.
What do you make of the Airbus A300's remaining operators? Have you ever flown on the type? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
Sources: ch-aviation.com