Entitled the 鈥楢330neo: The Heir Apparent鈥�, the mini docuseries focuses on the evolution of Airbus鈥� A330neo, the successor to the highly popular A330ceo. 

The A330neo aircraft variant has not reached the dizzy heights of its predecessors, the A330-200 and A330-300, but Airbus clearly felt it was a story worth telling.听听

鈥淭he series will focus on the dedication, fervour and commitment of the teams entrusted with the development of this game-changing aircraft, as well as the trust and confidence displayed by the customers who have chosen it,鈥� Airbus said in a statement announcing the launch. 

The docuseries is free to view through the Airbus website, with the first season looking at the work of engineers, test pilots and designers at both the planemaker and British engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce.  

The first episode, 鈥楩lying the Nest鈥�, introduces viewers to Vincent Lebas, the Head of A330neo Overall Aircraft Design at Airbus, who provides invaluable insights into the plane精东影业 development.  

In the opening episode, Lebas explains how a double-digit reduction in fuel burn was the driving force behind the design of the aircraft, with particular regard to the aerodynamic efficiency of the new wing and wing/engine integration. 

Additional episodes will explore the A330neo精东影业 updated cockpit and systems, Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines and the Airspace cabin. 

Spread over four episodes, the first season will also feature Chief Test Pilot Malcolm Ridley, Rolls-Royce精东影业 Trent 7000 Chief Engineer Paul Sixsmith and Jochen Werner, Airbus鈥� VP Industrial Cabin Design.  

A second season, which is already in the pipeline, will focus on A330neo customers, their thoughts on purchasing the aircraft variant and how it operates daily. 

Although Airbus has not confirmed which customer airlines will beinvolved in the docuseries, some of the A330neo existing operators include Delta Air Lines and Cebu Pacific, and lessor ALC.  

As of May 2024, a total of 319 A330neo family aircraft had been ordered by more than 25 customers, of which 131 aircraft had been delivered. 

Together, the A330-200 and A330-300 accumulated 1,445 orders before being replaced by the improved New Engine Option series.   

In June 2024, it was understood that Airbus had opened talks with several Chinese airlines regarding the potential sale of more than 100 A330neo widebody aircraft.聽

You can watch episode one of 鈥楢330neo: The Heir Apparent鈥� on the .

Airbus confirms order for 20 A330neos from secret buyer, 600th A350 delivered

• Aircraft

byIan Molyneaux

2024-06-07

The test program took place in two locations specifically chosen for their unique 鈥榟ot and high鈥� credentials – Toluca in Mexico, followed by La Paz in Bolivia. Toluca Airport (TLC) lies at an altitude of 9,186ft (2,800m), while La Paz Airport (LAP) is located at 13,300ft (4,054m) above mean sea level. 

Airbus has sent previous test aircraft to Bolivia, as the country’s extremely hot climate and high altitude are ideal for testing the design limits of its aircraft under such challenging operational conditions. The flights in both Mexico and Bolivia form just part of Airbus鈥� incremental envelope extensions for the A330neo.听听

The main objective of the test program is to expand and certify the wide range of airports from which the A330neo can operate. This is of some importance for the company, as it helps to demonstrate the type精东影业 operation capabilities to those airlines that either operate to or are based in hot and high environments.聽

To date, the A330neo has only been certified to operate at airports that are up to 8,000ft (2,438m) in elevation. However, following certification approval for hot and high operations, which is expected in Q1 2025, the aircraft will be able to serve airports that are up to 12,500ft (3,810m) in elevation. Potential locations that could then see A330neo service include airports in China, Tibet (Lhasa), Central and South America (such as Bogota, Toluca, Quito, and Mexico), and in Africa (such as Addis Ababa, Ethiopia).聽

The primary focus of the tests conducted by Airbus was the evaluation of take-off and landing performance. This is vital for any aircraft, as operating at increased altitude reduces engine thrust levels, crucial for establishing take-off performance. The A330-900neo testbed also conducted local flights to evaluate climb and approach performance.  

According to an Airbus statement, other tests included 鈥渕ultiple engine starts, system behavior verification, low-speed taxi and rejected take-offs鈥�. In the case of the engine starts (which are seen as a crucial part of overall performance in such environments), the tests included special instrumentation installed onboard the aircraft to measure the starter air pressure, which can often be adversely affected by high airport altitudes. 

The test flight series involving F-WTTN took place between March 18 and 30, 2024, although the results of the program have only now been revealed. According to Airbus, a team of around 40 specialists took part, participating in the planning, logistics, maintenance, local liaison (airports, ATC, authorizations and permits), test support, execution and analysis activities, as well as the flying of the airplane itself.听听

Airbus has stated that 鈥渢he early test results already reflect the good performance and behavior of both the aircraft and its Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines鈥�. 

Captain Franck Busnel, Airbus鈥� mission leader and one of the test pilots involved in the hot and high certification program, said: 鈥淏y extending the envelope of operation of the A330neo, which was successful, we can show to the operators, the current ones or the new ones, that the aircraft reaches the same capability of the A330ceo in terms of high-altitude operations, but with the added advantage that the A330neo is much more fuel efficient.鈥澛犅�

Airbus confirms order for 20 A330neos from secret buyer, 600th A350 delivered

• Aircraft

byIan Molyneaux

2024-06-07

The claims that the possibility of a deal has been spurred on by President Xi Jinping精东影业 recent visit to France and his conversations with the French President Emmanuel Macron.聽

Those familiar with the development have said that the terms of a potential deal are still being discussed, and that as yet there is no sign of when an announcement could be made.  

The A330neo has been something of a disappointment to Airbus when compared to its predecessors, the A330-200 and A330-300.听听

Together, they accumulated 1,445 orders before being replaced by the improved, New Engine Option series. 

With China once again halting imports from Boeing, Airbus may be seizing its opportunity to present more attractive terms to the Chinese airlines to purchase A330neos. 

Major Chinese airlines to have been approached by Bloomberg regarding the sale include Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines. 

This week, China Eastern Airlines took delivery of the first aircraft from its additional order of 100 jets of the Comac C919 type, a plane designed to rival similar offerings from Airbus and Boeing.  

The Chinese plane-maker delivered the first C919 in December 2022 to China Eastern Airlines, before entering commercial service until May 2023.  

After a successful outing at the Dubai Airshow in November 2023, Comac was touted as an aircraft manufacturer that could genuinely rival the Airbus and Boeing duopoly.听听

Turkish Airlines in talks with Boeing for up to 250 aircraft, 737 MAXs and 787s

• Airlines
• Aviation

byIan Molyneaux

2024-06-04

Anticipation for the first arrival of Malaysian Airlines鈥� new fleet of A330neo aircraft is building with deliveries expected to begin in the third quarter of 2024.  

(MAG) plans to introduce 12 new aircraft in 2024 comprised of four Airbus A330neos and eight Boeing 737-8 jets.听听

As part of Malaysia Airlines fleet renewal program, the carrier signed agreements for 20 A330neo aircraft with Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Avolon.聽

Of the 20 aircraft, 10 are directly purchased from Airbus with a back- to-back sale and leaseback arrangement with Avolon, while the remaining 10 are leased directly from Avolon. 

The A330neos will also feature new A330neo business class and economy class seats, as unveiled by Malaysia Airlines back in March 2024.  

The Collins Aerospace Elevation business class seats feature an all-suite cabin with individual privacy doors, as well as wireless charging pods.聽

Malaysia Airlines plans to offer more updates on the A330neo精东影业 journey to join the carrier throughout the year.  

The new photos released by the airline show a unique perspective on how aircraft are pieced together during assembly at the Airbus facility.聽

鈥淲ith the main fuselage sections, wings, and tail adorned with the airline精东影业 iconic wau logo fully attached, the aircraft will undergo installation of the cockpit, engines, landing gear, electrical wiring, avionics, and fuel and hydraulic systems,鈥� Malaysia Airlines wrote on social media on May 29, 2024.听听

The airline added: 鈥淭he aircraft will then proceed with thorough ground checks, cabin installation and prepare for its first test flight, before making its journey home to Malaysia.鈥澛�

Malaysia Airlines forms multi-year global partnership with Manchester United聽

• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2024-03-22

The first aircraft is expected to be delivered by late 2024, with the final delivery scheduled in 2026. 

Avolon has been a lessor for Cebu since 2012 and has already leased 11 aircraft to the airline, including five A320ceos, three A320neos, and three A330neos.  

The A330neo boasts an increased range of over 13,300km (7,200 nautical miles) compared to the previous generation A330ceo, with 25% lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. 

Cebu Pacific plans to use these new aircraft to expand its route network in the Asia and Middle East regions and to transition to a more efficient, technologically advanced fleet with reduced carbon emissions.  

鈥淲ith the continuing recovery of air travel in Asia we look forward to further opportunities to support customers on sale and leaseback transactions, or through our orderbook, as the availability of widebodies out to 2030 continues to tighten,鈥� stated Paul Geaney, President and Chief Commercial Officer of Avolon. 

The announcement was made on February 22, 2024 at the Singapore Airshow during a signing ceremony.

Once finalized, this will be Vietjet精东影业 first-ever widebody order. The aircraft will be operated on the carrier精东影业 growing long-range network, as well as on high capacity regional services. It will replace the carrier精东影业 current fleet of leased A330-300.

The A330neo features the award-winning Airspace cabin, which offers a high level of comfort, ambience, and design. This includes more individual space for passengers, enlarged overhead bins, a new lighting system and access to the latest inflight entertainment and connectivity systems.

“The new A330neo aircraft is a strategic addition to comprehensively modernize Vietjet’s fleet, enhancing operational capabilities to support our global flight network expansion plan. Its fuel-efficient new-generation design aligns with our sustainable development strategy and ESG goals, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050,鈥� Vietjet Chief Executive Officer Dinh Viet Phuong said during the ceremony. 

鈥淲ith the introduction of the A330neo, passengers can look forward to longer-range, well-equipped flights with excellent services at more competitive fares,鈥� Phuong added, noting that the airline intends to expand to the United States and Europe with the new aircraft order.

鈥淲e are excited to work with Vietjet on the next phase of the carrier’s expansion.The A330neo will enable the airline to achieve the lowest possible operating costs per seat and to continue to offer its customers the best possible value wherever they fly,” Christian Scherer, CEO of the Commercial Aircraft business of Airbus, said.

鈥淚t will also be the perfect complement to the A321XLRs already on order with the airline, as it spreads its wings to more far flung destinations,鈥� Scherer continued.

In all the 12 new inductees in 2024 will comprise of four Airbus A330neo aircraft and eight Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets. 

The arrivals are part of Malaysia Airlines fleet modernization plan that will help to support its network growth requirements.聽

In August 2022, Malaysia Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) with Airbus, Rolls-Royce and lessor Avolon for the acquisition of 20 A330neo aircraft with deliveries scheduled through to 2028. 

10 of the aircraft are directly purchased from Airbus with a back-to-back sale and leaseback arrangement with Avolon, while the remaining 10 are leased directly from Avolon.   

The new A330neo精东影业 business class will feature the newly designed Elevation Business Class seats in another first for the Malaysian flag carrier.听听

The all-suite cabins, with individual privacy doors, are set out in a 1-2-1 configuration and through the introduction of these new seats, Malaysia Airlines is poised to become the flagship carrier in the world to feature the 鈥楨levation鈥� seats on the A330 airframe.   

The A330neos will comprise 297 seats, 28 in business class and 269 in economy class, of which 24 seats come with extra legroom. 

Additional features include wireless charging pods, ergonomic seat cushions, highly integrated in-flight entertainment (IFE) solutions and Wi-Fi connectivity. 

鈥淲e are excited to induct the first of 20 Airbus A330neo精东影业 in Q3 of this year, which will gradually replace our A330ceo fleet and operate to our network across Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East. This expansion is not just about increasing our inventory in numbers but also introducing the first-of-its-kind cabin class, new seats and experiences that prioritizes customer safety, comfort and overall satisfaction,鈥� Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, Group Managing Director of MAG, said. 

To further strengthen its fleet modernization program, at the beginning of 2026 Malaysian Airlines will also be retrofitting six A350-900s to match the standard of the new A330neos. 

鈥淲e will continue to channel our investments into endeavors that strategically align with the key pillars driving our customer value proposition, namely cabin comfort, in-flight dining, and service delivery of our esteemed cabin crew. We aspire to curate an overall passenger experience that not only meets premium standards but exceeds them, underpinned by our inimitable Malaysian Hospitality,鈥� Ismail added.  

Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) currently owns a fleet size of 104 through its subsidiaries Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, MASwings and MASkargo.聽 聽

Turkish Airlines signs deal for 10 new Boeing 737 MAX 8s from Dubai-owned firm聽

• Aircraft
• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2024-01-29

On Wednesday, September 27, 2023, the A330neo, registered D-ANRB, was struck by an airport vehicle at (FRA), causing a huge tear in the plane精东影业 fuselage.听听

A spokesperson for Condor confirmed in a statement to 精东影业 that there were no passengers on board the aircraft at the time of impact and no one was injured.聽

鈥淭he damage to the aircraft is now being thoroughly inspected and technically examined on site by experts. Condor is working closely with all relevant authorities and other parties involved. Further investigations are currently ongoing,鈥� the spokesperson told 精东影业. 

In photos shared on social media, part of the vehicle can be seen wedged into the aircraft fuselage arter having punctured the outside of the plane.听听聽

A330-900 was hit by a loading vehicle while parked at Frankfurt Airport, causing a significant fuselage tear.

The incident occurred when the aircraft was empty and preparing for its next flight.

D-ANRB was only recently delivered to Condor on 2 September and originally鈥�

— Dennis Adepoju (@DennisAdepoju)

The aircraft, which is just over three years old, arrived on Saturday, September 2, 2023, making it Condor精东影业 ninth factory-new A330neo.聽

Condor expects to receive a total of 18 new long-haul aircraft as part of its overall fleet renewal program. 

Once the long-haul fleet renewal is complete, Condor’s short- and medium-haul fleet will follow, with the current Airbus A320, A321 and Boeing 757 aircraft being replaced by 13 factory-new A320neo and 28 factory-new A321neo.聽

Air India Express鈥� first ever Boeing 737 MAX leaves Seatle for new home

• Aircraft
• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2023-09-29

The lessor chose the bigger A330neo variant, the A330-900neo, with the order pending a final agreement. With the latest MoU, Avolon精东影业 fleet of Airbus aircraft, including committed aircraft, is 616 aircraft: 208 A320ceo, 285 A320neo, 51 A330ceo, 55 A330neo, and 17 A350s. 

鈥淲e have been a strong supporter of the A330neo programme since its launch and with our existing widebody orderbook fully placed we are now locking in future growth in a supply constrained environment,鈥� said Andy Cronin, the Chief Executive Officer of Avolon. 

While relatively small in size, the order still represents more than 7% of the current backlog of the A330-900neo, which as of May 31, 2023, stands at 277 aircraft. The number excludes two aircraft delivered to Air Belgium via Airbus Financial Services. 

Meanwhile, Oman-based SalamAir signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Avolon for three Airbus A330neo aircraft on June 19, 2023. 

SalamAir enters the long-haul market with three Airbus A330neos

• Aircraft
• Airlines
• Paris Air Show

byRytis Beresnevicius

2023-06-21

Both the MoU and LoI were signed during the Paris Air Show 2023. 

鈥淥ur expanded delivery pipeline allows us to offer our customers the A330neo精东影业 range and reduced emissions to support their evolving fleet needs. Our recent aircraft orders and commitments reflect our confidence in the long-term growth trajectory of the aviation sector,鈥� added Cronin. 

According to ch-aviation.com data, Avolon精东影业 currently managed portfolio of A330-900neo aircraft includes 25 twin-aisle jets, with TAP Air Portugal leasing six aircraft of the type from the lessor. Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras currently operates five A330-900neos which belong to the Irish company. 

On June 20, 2023, Avolon also ordered 40 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, citing confidence 鈥渋n the long-term demand from our customers for the 737 MAX鈥�. 

Avolon and Boeing strike deal for 40 737 MAX jets at Paris Air Show

• Aircraft
• Paris Air Show

byIan Molyneaux

2023-06-20

The airline and lessor signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) on the first day of the Paris Air Show on June 19, 2023, with the first deliveries scheduled to commence in October 2023. 

鈥淭he decision to introduce the Airbus A330neo complements the existing fleet of Airbus aircraft, which includes the A320neo, A321neo, and an A321 freighter,鈥� said Captain Mohamed Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SalamAir. According to Ahmed, the addition of the twin-aisle jet will grow the airline精东影业 capacity in response to the ever-growing demand of the market and attract inbound tourists to Oman, part of the country精东影业 Vision 2040 goals. 

鈥淭he extended range of the A330neo will allow SalamAir to efficiently serve medium-range destinations, particularly in the Far East and Europe. This expanded reach not only improves passenger convenience but also enhances the airline’s competitiveness in the market,鈥� continued the airline精东影业 executive. 

Introducing the A330neo will be a significant expansion of capacity for the airline. At present, it operates six Airbus A320neo, six A321neo, and one A321 converted freighter. It has no other orders for Airbus aircraft, according to data from ch-aviation.com. 

SalamAir was established in 2016 and is based at Oman精东影业 Muscat International Airport (MCT), also home to the country精东影业 flag carrier, Oman Air. In October 2022, the airline ordered six Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, with additional six options. 

Embraer is scheduled to begin delivering the E195-E2s by the end of 2023 which, together with the introduction of the A330neo at around the same time, will significantly grow the carrier精东影业 total seat number offered on its network. 

Currently, it operates 59 routes, according to ch-aviation.com data. 

Embraer signs deals for E2 jets with SalamAir, Royal Jordanian

• Aircraft

byVictoria Bryan

2022-10-07