Many operators are trading there A340-200/00's into Boeing for 777s - the 777 is killing the older A340s in the market place, they are underpowered-slow & innefficient. MROs are expensive - complex landing gear - piddley CFM56 engines usually run out.. Luftansa Technic are the only ones who can make the older ones stand up/live. Boeing has been sitting on a bunch of them - My guess as to why they are still flying though is because anyone sitting on them will give them away for a song. The new A330 & A340 are completely different - AIRBUS has tried to improve the hell out of them to get the market back. The A340-500/600 is a fine machine.. - but - I would not classify this as a "derivative" - this is really a whole new airplane - based on the numbers of substantive improvements ( all new wings, center body gear, new engines ) - strange they still want to put people under the floorboards .. lower lobe crew-rest is not certified for takeoffs & landings - so Im told ..