The Airbus A320-200 and the A340-300 are two different planes. The former is a narrowbody short range aircraft while the latter is a widebody long range passenger jet. The A320 can fly only up to 180 passengers while the A340 flies up to 290 passengers depending on the seat layout. However, there is one thing common between both aside form being made by Airbus. They share the same engines, the CFM International CFM56 5 series.
The huge difference is that the A320 uses only two CFM56 while the A340-200/300 uses four.
The Airbus NEO, the A320 and A321 that time only had two engine options which were the CFM56-5B and the IAE V2500. However, the CFM56 were the most common as pilots would describe these as very reliable and durable. For the A340-200 and A340-300, they only had the CFM56-5C as the only available engine options.
Later versions of the A340 such as the A340-500 and A340-600 used Rolls Royce Trent 500 engines already.
While both A320 and earlier versions of the A340 do use the same CFM56 5 series engines, there were still differences. The A320 used the CFM56 5B and the A340-200/300 had the CFM56 5C.
The difference between both the 5B and the 5C
Originally, the CFM56-5B was intended to power the A321. With a thrust range of 22,000 to 33,000 lbf, it can power all A320 models (A318/A319/A320/A321) and has replaced the CFM56-5A series. The availability of a double-annular combustor that minimizes emissions, a new fan in a larger fan box, and a new low-pressure compressor with a fourth stage are among the modifications from the CFM56-5A. It is the most common engine used by Airbus.
The CFM56-5C series is the most powerful of the CFM56 family, with a thrust rating ranging from 31,200 to 34,000 lbf. It entered service in 1993 and powers Airbus’ long-range A340-200 and -300 airliners. The primary differences include a bigger fan, a fifth low-pressure turbine stage, and the same four-stage low-pressure compressor as the -5B model.
Unlike all other CFM56 variants, the -5C has a mixed-exhaust nozzle, which provides somewhat greater efficiency. This gives the A340-300’s CFM56 that “hair blow-dryer” look and shape.
The CFM56 engines were also utilized in the Douglas DC-8-70, the Boeing 737-300/400, and the Boeing 737NG.
The CFM56 engine is no longer offered as an engine option for the A320. The newest A320neo models are powered with either CFM LEAP1A or Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan engines.
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