Airbus A330
The Airbus A330 is a twin-engine wide-body family developed alongside the four-engine A340. It serves medium- and long-haul passenger routes, freight operations, air-to-air refuelling and transport roles.[1]
Specifications
The principal family-level specifications are shown in the information panel. Values vary by variant, cabin, engine and operating rules; the linked manufacturer material is the controlling reference.
Development history
The A330 inherited the A300's wide-body cross-section and introduced a new wing and A320-style flight deck. The A330-300 first flew in 1992 and entered service in 1994; the shorter -200 followed. Airbus later re-engined the family as the A330neo.[1]
Variants
A330ceo variants include the -200, -300 and -200F. The A330neo comprises the -800 and -900. Related airframes include the A330 MRTT tanker and Beluga XL oversized freighter.
Current and former operators
Current operators include Delta, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, TAP Air Portugal, Virgin Atlantic, Cathay Pacific and China Eastern. Former operators include Northwest, US Airways, Air Berlin, Thomas Cook and Dragonair.
Engines
A330ceo customers selected General Electric CF6, Pratt & Whitney PW4000 or Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines. A330neo aircraft use the Rolls-Royce Trent 7000.
Orders and deliveries
Airbus continues to build the A330neo. Its official monthly workbook separates ceo and neo orders, cancellations, backlog and deliveries.[2]
Accidents and incidents
Selected accidents include Air France Flight 447, an A330-203 lost over the Atlantic in 2009. The BEA found that temporary airspeed inconsistencies were followed by inappropriate control inputs and a sustained stall.[3]
Compare with
Direct primary sources
A330 family — Airbus
Airbus orders and deliveries — Airbus
Air France Flight 447 investigation — Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses