Airbus

Airbus has launched the latest product from its widebody family, the A330neo (new engine option), with Rolls-Royce’s Trent 7000 engines.

The company unveiled the A330-800neo and A330-900neo models at the Farnborough International Airshow.

The new Trent 7000 engines have 68,000lb-72,000lb of thrust, and are designed to improve fuel consumption by 10% and reduce perceived noise compared with Trent 700.

According to Airbus, A330neo will have additional range of up to 400nm.

Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders said: "The A330 is a very important margin contributor for our group. It’s also one of the most reliable and efficient commercial aircraft ever. Customers love it. With our decision to re-engine the plane, we will keep the A330 flying high for many more years to come."

In addition to the new engine options, the new versions have been incorporated with aerodynamic improvements and changes in cabin technology.

"The new Trent 7000 engines have 68,000lb-72,000lb of thrust, and are designed to improve fuel consumption by 10%."

The cabin accommodates up to ten additional seats in A330-900neo and six in A330-800neo. The A330-900neo jetliner will have a total capacity of 310 seats and the A330-800neo up to 252.

The A330-800neo retains the fuselage length of A330-200, while the A330-900neo uses the longer fuselage of the A330-300.

Airbus president and CEO Fabrice Brégier said: "We worked out a solution that keeps the maturity, keeps the simplicity, keeps all that the customers like about the A330 family, and on top improves the fuel-burn per seat by 14%."

The first of the A330neo versions is expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2017 to Air Lease.

Air Lease is the first customer for the new aircraft and has signed a contract with Airbus at the airshow for 25 A330-900neo.


Image: The A330-900neo can accommodate up to 310 passengers. Photo: courtesy of Airbus SAS.