The Airbus A310 is a twin-engine widebody airliner developed as a smaller member of the original Airbus family. It combined a shorter fuselage with a newly designed wing, providing an aircraft in approximately the 200-seat class. Development began in July 1978.[1]Airbus A310 series introductionCivil Aviation Administration of China · caac.gov.cn · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Development and certification
The first A310 flew on 3 April 1982. The programme addressed requirements associated with Lufthansa and Swissair, which became early operators. French and German type certification followed on 11 March 1983, and deliveries began later that month. The aircraft shared its broad fuselage lineage with the A300 while introducing significant changes to the wing and overall proportions.[1]Airbus A310 series introductionCivil Aviation Administration of China · caac.gov.cn · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[2]Our Journey: first flight of the A310Airbus · mediaassets.airbus.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Versions
The A310-200 was the initial production version. A convertible A310-200C incorporated a cargo door; the single example was delivered to Martinair in 1984. The longer-range A310-300 followed in 1985 with increased maximum take-off weight. It included a fuel tank in the horizontal stabiliser, allowing fuel transfer to help manage the aircraft centre of gravity.[1]Airbus A310 series introductionCivil Aviation Administration of China · caac.gov.cn · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details[3]A310 MRTT test-bed retiresAirbus · airbus.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Airline and specialist service
Airbus records production of 255 A310s, with the final delivery in June 1998. In addition to passenger service, the design found government transport and tanker applications. Germany and Canada operated converted aircraft for missions including personnel movement, medical evacuation and refuelling support.[3]A310 MRTT test-bed retiresAirbus · airbus.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Flight-test legacy
An A310-300 acquired by Airbus in 2003 became a refuelling-system demonstrator. It supported development work for the later A330 MRTT, including boom trials and automatic-refuelling research. Airbus reported 353 test flights before the aircraft retired from this role in 2024. This was the history of a particular test airframe, supplementing the wider airline history of the A310 family.[3]A310 MRTT test-bed retiresAirbus · airbus.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details