A330-200

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified Airbus A330-200 with the new 242t maximum take-off-weight (MTOW) capability.

Certification comes after the agency approved the 242t A330-300 version in April.

Airbus A330 programme head Eric Zanin said: "With this new 242t A330-200 our customers will benefit from even more range plus a proven 99.4% reliability, while offering their passengers best-in-class comfort.

"It’s unbeatable operating costs and unique versatility make the A330 family a highly competitive solution in the medium to long haul market."

The A330-200 242t is said to offer increased range of up to 350nm, compared with the existing 238t model, which allows customers to fly missions up to 7,250nm.

"It’s unbeatable operating costs and unique versatility make the A330 family a highly competitive solution in the medium to long haul market."

Its aerodynamic and engine enhancements will provide operators with 2% in fuel efficiency, Airbus said.

The 242t A330-300 and A330-200 are designed to fly up to 13h and 15h, respectively.

So far, more than 100 operators have placed over 1,500 orders for the A330 family airliners, which are available in freighter, VIP and military transport / tanker variants.

In a typical three class configuration, the aircraft is designed to accommodate 250 to 300 passengers.

The A330-200 242t is expected to receive certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the near future.

Image: The A330-200 242t offers increased range of up to 350nm. Photo: courtesy of Fixion / Airbus SAS.