Production of the Airbus A340 long-haul airliner will cease after outstanding orders have been fulfilled. Airbus' parent company EADS revealed the decision when it released its earnings statement for the first nine months of 2011 on November 10. From January 2010 the four-engined airliner has only been built to order and the manufacturer has not received any additional commitments for the type over the last two years. In mid-November Airbus had a backlog of four A340-500s - two for the Indian carrier Kingfisher Airlines and two for VIP customers. However, Airbus spokesmen believe that it is unlikely that Kingfisher's aircraft will be built, resulting in production ending at 377. The manufacturer will continue to support A340s already in service.
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