How The Airbus A300 Revolutionized Widebody Service 51 Years Ago

It was 51 years ago that the Airbus A300 completed its first revenue flight with launch customer Air France, growing into one of the most influential widebody aircraft in history. When the A300 came along, it became the first twin-jet widebody commercial plane on the market, giving airlines an aircraft that could fly on long-haul, high-capacity routes with lower operating costs than the three and four-engined alternatives, such as the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 or Boeing 747. When the A300 first flew with Air France, its success under the French carrier attracted a host of airlines eager to benefit from its favorable economics and route versatility.