design cruise for the 747 is also .83, but due to the conventional wing design the affects of flying faster do not matter so much in fuel consumption.
mostly the 747 is operated at .86.
No it's not.
The slowest any 747 goes is 0.84. Well, not unless there's a very good reason to go slower.
Most -100's do 0.84.
Most -200's do 0.85
Most -300's & -400's do 0.86
We operate at LRC, which may be from about 0.854 down to a minimum of 0.84.
With MTOW the A340 will reach initially FL330, I heard the 747 can only do 290 initially, is this correct?
Only the -100/200's. The -300's generally have much more powerful engines and can easily get up into the 30's no probs.
Most of the -400's - I think - can go straight to 330 or 350. The GE powered ones do best at this I think.