Following the maiden flight of the A330-900, the aircraft’s little sister, the A330-800, has started final assembly and is on track for the first flight planned in mid-2018.
Just under six weeks after the maiden flight of the A330-900, the aircraft’s little sister, the A330-800, has started final assembly. Together the two aircraft constitute the Airbus A330neo family, the latest, re-engined addition to the Airbus widebody twin line-up.
Airbus says the A330-800 is on track for the first flight planned in mid-2018.
The 250-seat A330-800 features 99% commonality with the larger A330-900, having the same airframe, engines and cross crew commonality. Both the A330-800 and A330-900 feature a new A350-inspired wing with Sharklet wingtip devices, Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines and the new AirSpace by Airbus cabin.
Compared with the original A330, the A330neo can fly an additional offers an additional 400 nautical miles range — 6,550nm for the A330-900, 7,500nm on the A330-800.
The A330-900 dominates the neo order book as of today. Airbus currently has orders for 210 A330neos, only six of which are for the A330-800.