World’s ONLY A340-600 Cargo Fleet: Exclusive Behind the Scenes!

We went behind the scenes at European Cargo, the only company in the world operating a fleet of A340-600s! In this exclusive video, we capture the offload process of one of these rare aircraft, explore their operations center, and go back airside to record the departure process. This video is packed with goodies - Enjoy!
European Cargo: european.aero/
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[@EleanorPeterson]

I know the A340 has always been a bit of a solution in search of a problem, but I still find its proportions enormously pleasing to look at.

[@r12004rewy]

The 346 is undoubtedly the best looking (sub sonic) passenger aircraft of all time I was lucky enough to fly on one of the Virgin 346 from DC to LHR some 15 years ago there were less than 70 passengers on board. What a pity that almost all have been withdrawn now from passenger service, but great that EC are still operating the type and with the planned fleet increase they should be around for many years to come. Fascinating video...Thanks for posting it.

[@hawaiianprestigecars8493]

@@r12004rewy singapore airlines had the best livery for these amazing airplane

[@karloarsch1579]

Yes, subsonic, this restriction has to be made! 😉

[@carlmaster9690]

Such a beautiful plane! Im so glad the A340-600 is still being utilised past passenger seevice! If you ask me, scrapping these planes would be a big mistake as they've still pretty young aircraft and have still got a lot of life and service in them.

[@Inquisite1031]

its just that twin engine aircrafts can do everything they do but better and efficiency is king in todays economy

[@rob18rams]

Im part of the Fuelling team for these aircrafts at Bournemouth. We typically uplift 120k ltrs per trip, beautiful aircrafts and a brilliant team operating them.

[@BaybieK]

@@rob18rams would EC ever allow enthusiasts (myself and my brother) to come up for the day to get a closer look? Don't mind helping out as well if need be...

[@juliantangney5017]

Do they usually fly out of Bournemouth empty?

[@rob18rams]

@@juliantangney5017 yes, but sometimes loads go back out, I seen pallets of lager once.

[@BudstarXEmergencyOfficial]

With Bournemouth Airport as my local airport, it makes me happy to have some recognition of European Cargo and their rare fleet!

[@Alex_avgeek]

Hello personally my Local airport is Paris Vatry and this is where the 340 from European Cargo comes to make a stopover it's very fun 😁

[@BudstarXEmergencyOfficial]

@@Alex_avgeek Yeah they usually fly from Bournemouth to China, with stops at Vatry! 😄

[@jontc3532]

great video! European cargo was one of my favorites at LAX back during COVID. The a340 is such a beautiful aircraft and I am glad to see it live on past passenger days.

[@clivelawrence8017]

I live in Bournemouth, at the other end of the route, only about a mile from the airport and I enjoy seeing this plane coming and going too :)

[@basvanderhoek9293]

so quiet inside, amazing airplane, love the wings

[@LanesAviationYT]

Love it, the A340 is a very unique aircraft. 🙂

[@infiniteflight]

Sure is!

[@WadhaAl-marii]

@@infiniteflighthello infinite flight I not have money to buy the pro can you delete the pro 😢😢

[@American247heavyYT]

They won't do that unfortunately ​@@WadhaAl-marii

[@JesperKoob-jb8rb]

@@WadhaAl-marii they have to make moeny one way

[@robertcamble3543]

@@infiniteflight Air Jamaica had one or two of these A340s They were used on London & Toronto routes . They were the prettiest planes on those routes . They were eye Catching when they arrive at the Airports .

[@buzzukfiftythree]

It’s great to see Bournemouth Airport being used more these days. Must admit I do love the look of the A340-600, one of the most pleasing of the wide bodies.

[@Insertnamehere142]

Hope this means we could see an a340 rework including this and other various like the -300 and -500 Also new liveries

[@Supreme_MJ]

@@Insertnamehere142 don’t forget about the -200

[@당겐]

I live in near the Bournmouth airport and I always see European cargo's a340-600, It's really beautiful

[@Aviation_0ffical1]

As I live in Bournemouth my self when I went to the airport one time to see the red arrows take off the a340-600 ( G-ECLN) landed it was something I would never forget

[@garyashcroft7645]

I was lucky enough to have flown quite a few times with Virgin to Hong Kong on the A340-600. It is my favourite of all the planes I have been on, I also had a trip on the Lufthansa A340-600 and was amazed on that aircraft to find the toilets downstairs, it blew me away. Great video, keep up the great work for us enthusiasts. Gary - UK

[@bradleybull1787]

10:24 “Get some shots with the pilots” right before departure cracked me up. 😂

[@alistairscott137]

Very good to see these A340-600s having a second life, a lot of them being scrapped far too early, buying up ex Virgin and Iberia aircraft which would otherwise have been parted out/scrapped, well done European Cargo.

[@stefapara]

Great video! Definitely one of the most unique air cargo operations in the world

[@thebeard9672]

Bournemouth is my local airport and as a massive avgeek I appreciate how lucky I am too live in Bournemouth and get too see these unique & beautiful aircraft arriving and departing out off Bournemouth

[@scottgoode9874]

Every time this beautiful aircraft goes out we are always in ore because of its size. Thank you so much for sharing this video and finally get to see what goes on with this amazing airline. 10 aircraft by the end of 2025! Go European Cargo! More neck problems watching you go out of our local airport.

[@if.england]

Amazing video! I can’t believe this is an ex Virgin Atlantic A340-600

[@4nick8]

What a stunning plane !

[@geraldmiti3090]

The 600 is one of the most beautiful planes ever made.

[@samkNZ]

I was lucky enough to fly on this aircraft a couple of times when it was registered as G-VFIT for Virgin Atlantic, such an amazing aircraft and I’m glad it’s got a second life flying cargo and not being sent to the scrapper. Thanks for the great video!

[@infiniteflight]

Amazing! Thanks for watching :)

[@sangmurai7460]

I never found a340 cargo.This first time !!

[@WestSideRwanda]

@@sangmurai7460 It’s originally passengers one, but got converted into cargo plane

[@MrRocking4ever]

these airbus even do not have a cargo door - never saw this kind of unloading a cargo aircraft ! nevertheless a very interesting video

[@crashcomedy1]

It is a normal aircraft. It’s not a cargo conversion. It’s a a340 with its passenger config stripped

[@mikehindson-evans159]

Excellent video! An informative and enthusiastic account of the results of the P2F conversion Best line - "the passengers are the smoke detectors" - love it! Great to see Welsh-built wings supporting the economy. Compliments to everyone interviewed for their knowledgeable and coherent account of their work.

[@Britainbyrail]

HA thats my local, i see these all the time fly over my house. Brilliant aircraft!

[@georginahallett8716]

Thank you for the video🙂Living in Lymington, I often track these in/out of BOH on FR24. I did get some nice inbound shots back in March of G-ECLN on finals over Longslade Bottom/New Forest. As an ex RAF Mover(many, many years ago😉) it's interesting seeing how the technology has changed in load planning etc, but at the end of the day it's still down to "hand-balling" a lot of the smaller cartons!!

[@robertbaker8306]

I watch these guys on FR24 most days, and I am lucky enough to live nearby and see these amazing aircraft on a regular basis. Thanks for a great film and some insight into what European cargo do.😎

[@mrkhan2983]

beautiful machine .. and for sure its enormous !

[@FSElite]

Awesome work!

[@DannoAviation]

This very aircraft (registration G-ECLB) visited London Heathrow last year on the 14th of October and I was lucky enough to have seen it both arriving and departing later on the day as well, an absolutely beautiful aircraft… really enjoyed the video and the takeoff at the end was impeccable too🤩

[@johndean4998]

Until the A380 and then the A350 came along, the A340-600 was my favourite aircraft for flying long-haul (and my experience of flying goes back to the late 1960's). I'm so pleased to see some of them still being used.

[@AviatorEkofficial]

Nice that you guys had fun seeing the behind the scenes of an A340-600 Cargo operation. Nice Video @infinteflight

[@infiniteflight]

Thank you!

[@RajpoothRupali]

I live in North Baddesley Hants, they fly over my house literally, 2 or 3 times a week into bournemouth. such a beautiful aircraft to see flying still.

[@marcphua7396]

😊best looking quad ever

[@MustafaKemal-oe8ie]

Gorgeous, veeeery proud of you

[@kollberg82]

Interesting video! Remember seeing an concept a couple of years ago with a cargo lift from the lower hold to upper deck. So it could be centerloaded on upper with smaler PMC.

[@Alex_avgeek]

during a training course at Paris Vatry airport I was able to ride in it, it was an honor and the crew was very friendly❤✈️

[@oscarchinhaoyumoe-iy3qo]

I love a340-600 because it is very long and looks fun

[@ianjemma]

Flew on a Virgin A340 to Johannesburg. Good to see some of them still in use. On a clear day in South London I sometimes see thse aircraft fly overhead on their way back to Bournemouth.

[@joebarrett4353]

Great vid. Fascinating insight

[@JacobMarsh7]

I must get down to BOH and spot these birds at some point, never seen a 340. Great video guys!

[@infiniteflight]

Thanks! BOH has some great viewpoints

[@juliogonzo2718]

I think I've only seen two a340s. Both at Toronto Pearson airport years ago. One was an air canada the next gate over from mine that was going to India. Another was an air France smashed to bits at the end of the runway. I saw that one from the highway

[@NickGillings-vf3ye]

Good stuff . We see these regularly as we live in town and visit the aviation museum regularly so we see them being loaded /unloaded . 👍

[@lamontcranston4436]

Awesome, such a great plane and a great team there too!

[@alik8406]

Love this informative video, it's so interesting to find out a little more about the operation. I live on the Bournemouth Aiport flight path and never tire of seeing these beauties flying overhead. So pleased I took the time to watch and learn, I'd always been curious. Thank you for sharing.

[@MetaFootballTV]

Interesting stuff indeed. Thank for this video and for the insight behind these operations.

[@American247heavyYT]

WOW! I'm very interested in this Aircraft. I really hope they add more of those A340-600 as European cargo, Keep it up these videos there, Dan!❤🎉

[@LOICM589]

Nice video. Exited for the MAX!

[@johnwixkjr6640]

My favorite version of the A340.

[@northseawolf]

I remember when MD-11s were all being converted from pax config to freighters 20+ years ago. Interesting to see A340s following similar treatment.

[@simiot1]

Thanks! Nice to see the 600's in focus. Those larger RR Engines... The capability is not shamed! 😀 The range is comparable.

[@Lonjul]

Great filming! ❤🎉

[@infiniteflight]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@markvincent9098]

What an interesting film, we always look out for the 340s as they come and go over Ringwood, and they are the most elegant machines with a similar profile to the classic Boeing 707.

[@alsmith5604]

Beautiful aircraft... so glad they have a new lease of life and aren't facing the scrap merchants yet!!!

[@if_.moaaviation]

Pretty neat! Thanks for the video, and we can't wait for the 737 MAX release!

[@sheenodj]

Great video and stunning aircraft 😎

[@shadow_gamer126]

I really love infinite flight simulator it's the best and it just like real planes❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@macrovigilance]

great vid on a very interesting operation! Tks.

[@infiniteflight]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dumitrulangham1721]

❤❤❤ she is an ex virgin Atlantic! nice to see that 4 engines aircraft’s aren’t totally extinct yet out our skies! Interesting to the use that this is bird being used!

[@lizsavagar2860]

Great video❤ very thankful that you lot were around during covid, l used a lot of ppe and test kits during that time!! Love the comment by the loadmaster referencing the smoke alarms not being present when configured for passengers as THEY are the smoke alarms😮 should have been on the payroll😂😂😂😂 l really enjoyed this....keeping a rare craft alive is always good in my book❤thankyou

[@gpierre90]

Hi, wow this is awesome, its kind of sad that we get to see fewer and fewer of these in pax aircraft format, however its great that European Cargo has retrofitted it as a one of a kind freighter, nice. I have flown on the 500 variants a long time ago when Emirates still had them, ❤ that aircraft, furthermore its also great to this a little bit about European Cargo's operations, I work in a freight environment myself in my country, it is not with freighters mostly passenger variant B777's but its a good contrast, thanks for the video.

[@sam.v4]

excellent content

[@infiniteflight]

Much appreciated!

[@casinovlog]

Dancing Queen!

[@ipattison]

6:45 rollers that work perfectly every single time 😅

[@alang911]

Excellent

[@L_NPhipps]

Very interesting and a professional video. We flew on Virgin Atlantic A340 to Washington DC and could have been this one or one of the others in the fleet

[@BOBthe1988]

being a local I love watching these planes

[@gerardolramos]

Amazing 🤩 I love the Airbus A340-600 ❤️ You are so handsome 🥰 Thanks for this video 📷👍

[@csnash9634]

i cant help but notice that this whole operation seems very inefficient: Higher MTOW than the 777F, yet a lower payload (not to mention the fuel burn); flying empty planes; taking 4h loading the plane while needing a huge staff and so on. Im wondering how this is economical 🤔

[@casparberends2719]

@@csnash9634 cargo conversion is very simple, i.e., cheap. In addition, I expect that the planes were relatively cheap.

[@csnash9634]

@@casparberends2719 fair point

[@xxydsd4263]

Bournemouth's runway is quite short compared to other 'cargo' orientated airfields in the UK. Weights are restricted on that basis alone.

[@wewillrockyou1986]

Cheap planes and absurdly high demand for air freight. These planes will rarely see their payload weight limits reached because the cargo tends to be pretty low density.

[@jmstransit]

+ lower pressurization cycles.

[@ryanday3625]

Great video mate I like seeing the behind the scenes as bournemouth is my local and always wanted to see the inside

[@AirportPlaneSpotting]

This is interesting as I saw a EAC go out of BOH on 11/10/24 as Bournemouth is my local

[@AshenDilankahe47]

Hope to see upgraded version of A340 in the sim

[@savcris08]

Always had a soft spot for the A340 growing up. But it does make me wonder where the A340-500s are at these days?

[@richardshiggins704]

I think Azerbaijan Airways had a model in service though not too sure if this is still the case .

[@peeticek1624]

One of the most beautiful airplanes out there! Thank God for this company that is flying it also to Vienna on Mo and Wed, so we can enjoy. Terrible camera work btw..

[@jamesnoonan7450]

It's an incredibly slick operation european cargo have got going. I feel they will be a strong competitor to DHL Air UK, especially with the UK cargo airline market being so limited. I believe there are only three cargo operators left now. European Cargo, DHL Air UK, and West Atlantic UK and West Atlantic are struggling and have had to cancel their fleet upgrade plans due to Royal Mail pulling their postal flights. European Cargo could be onto a winner !!

[@stradivarioushardhiantz5179]

Exceptionnel

[@pongalcaraz]

6:49 and 6:51 THE TRACK SOUNDS😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@roymiller5283]

These guys were fantastic to work with during Covid very professional communications in comparison to the other big carriers who worked with me and the team at UK Gov.

[@davidurena5663]

A340-600❤✈️

[@use-oc4mj6n]

Great video. Appreciate the effort. Is this the same company as former Minardi F1's Paul Stoddart's European Aviation ?

[@cabovermike]

A great hands on operation, those 340's are massive , also like the larger engines than the pax version, need to fly export freight out to make more revenue, flying out empty not good,.

[@davidday2176]

Great plane one of the best with better engines great to see ex virgin planes they were not that old

[@scotty6346]

Think of what a brilliant freighter the A380 could have been if Airbus had designed in stronger floors! A great, Informative video as i like the A340 and European cargo was great for accommodating you for this video, Subbed and liked 👌

[@Aaronxx]

Currently training to be a pilot doing my ATPLS. Would be great to work for EC. Shame they don’t do any tagging for young pilots in training like some company’s.

[@AVGEEK3914]

For Infinite flight the game, can you please add a Jet2 A321 livery or/and a JET2HOLIDAYS Boeing 757.

[@wanderer5581]

As a real freight dog loadmaster I had the pleasure or working A330-200 P2F under the temp STCs.. what a pain in the arse and we didin't even have pods and many times no rollers, the 340 will hang on while its range and lower costs keep it going.. the world is desperately short of freighters..

[@GrafvonIsen]

A346 has the largest cargo bay in a passenger aircraft so I hope they will do as a fully converted cargo plane.

[@hannesb.152]

Can't believe that this is rentable ?!

[@JackedBoy-g2l]

Hey, Infinite Flight? I just wanna say, you have one of the COOLEST plane simulators I’ve ever seen. Just a quick question, why doesn’t the game have 3D buildings? 🤔

[@slscamg]

I’m not gonna lie. It seems like there’s a lot of labor involved in loading and unloading those cargo pods on the main deck. They’re gonna get more of these that might be worth it to develop and retrofit a cargo loading door.

[@pushingporsche4830]

@@slscamg or hear me out keep it this way to give entry level jobs in the aviation industry spreading the passion and experience with the next generation!

[@assmabadi2488]

My favorite game🛫🛬✈️🛩️🚁

[@hughofIreland]

I love this video. I want to point out one thing that may sound picky, but it is an irritant! The script editor missed the repeated use of the term “very unique.” It’s a nonsensical expression in that something is either unique (solitary, one of a kind, unparalleled) or it isn’t. I know English is an evolving language, pliant with terms and expressions changing all the time, but in the spirit of the A340 retrofit, I want to stick a bulkhead before the word “unique,” so that the meaning doesn’t deteriorate.

[@infiniteflight]

Thanks for your feedback. We're glad you enjoyed the video!

[@paraglidingpassion338]

Wow, I use to be a Loadmaster back in the day for Channel 9:25 Express in Guernsey . This Is a little bigger 😂😂😂😂

[@edwodz]

Please add Bournemouth airport to the sim 😊

[@vibesix]

I worked with that aircraft when it was Virgin.

[@karloarsch1579]

Their business model does not convince me a 100%, but what do I know. For me it´s important to see these planes in the air and not at the scrap yard.

[@Emiratesbutter861]

Infinite flight what is the release date of 737-8

[@LuxFlightSimmer]

Is this the right moment to ask for an A340-600 rework? :)

[@tobi2233]

Yes please remind them because they’re lazy af

[@physh]

This looks like a very artisanal operation...

[@zoobaaf]

Are all their a340s ex Virgin? The union jacks on the winglets give it away a bit, good to see classic planes get a new lease of life

[@infiniteflight]

Mostly ex Virgin yes 👌🏼

[@alvies4505]

They are converting some ex Iberia ones as well

[@KuostA]

Do they have any interest in acquiring and doing all this with a340-500 as well? Seems to make sense for their fleet commonality!