Airbus A330neo

Airbus A330neo
Computer rendered image of the upcoming Airbus A330neo
Role	Wide-body jet airliner
National origin	Multi-national
Manufacturer	Airbus
First flight	Expected mid-2016[1]
Introduction	Expected Q4-2017[1]
Status	Under Development
Unit cost	A330-800neo: US$249.6M (2015)[2] A330-900neo: US$284.6M (2015)[2]
Developed from	Airbus A330

The Airbus A330neo is a wide-body twin-engine jet airliner currently under development by Airbus to replace the Airbus A330 (now A330ceo ("Current Engine Option")). There will be two variants of the A330neo, the A330-800neo and the A330-900neo.^[1] The letters "neo" in the name stand for "New Engine Option". The Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 will be the only engine to power the airliner.^[1] The A330neo will also feature other enhancements such as winglets (inspired by the Airbus A350), a longer wingspan (64 meters) and new engine pylons. According to Airbus, these enhancements will reduce the fuel burn by 14% per seat, making the A330neo the most cost-efficient medium-range wide-body aircraft in the market.^[3]

Development

Airbus's management had been studying whether to equip the A330, its bestselling wide-body airliner, with newer and more efficient engines: "New Engine Option", or "neo" to maintain sales. Airbus sales chief John Leahy felt it was competitive at mid-range routes with that of the Boeing 787, even without new engines.^[4] It was also the most inexpensive widebody positioned to serve high density routes shorter than 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) and had the potential to create a monopoly in that market segment.^[5] Moreover, customers such as AirAsia X and Delta Air Lines, were interested in a re-engined A330 and pushed Airbus to develop one.^[4][6] However, an A330neo could have also caused problems for Airbus; being in the same twin-aisle market segment as the Airbus A350, the A330neo could have hampered its sales.^[5]

On 14 July 2014, Airbus announced the A330neo programme at the Farnborough Airshow.^[1] The A330neo will use the Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engine, which is an electronic controlled bleed air variant of the Trent 1000 used for the Boeing 787-10. It will have a 112 in (2,800 mm) diameter fan, with a 10:1 bypass ratio and delivering a thrust of 68,000 to 72,000 pounds-force (300 to 320 kN) of thrust.^[7] The A330neo will also feature other enhancements such as winglets (inspired by the Airbus A350), a longer wingspan (by 3.7 meters) and new engine pylons. The enhancements together with seat increase will reduce the fuel burn by 14% per seat on a 4,000-nautical-mile (7,400 km) flight, and increase range by 400 nautical miles (740 km).^[3][8] The A330neo would also have more seats than its predecessor.^[7] According to Airbus, the A330neo will be the most cost efficient medium range wide body aircraft in the market.^[3]

The decision to offer the aircraft with only one engine option is not unique to Airbus; the Boeing 777X will come equipped exclusively with General Electric GE9X engines. Airbus has pointed out that equipping a commercial aircraft to handle more than one type of engine increases development costs, however a similar engine also made by Rolls Royce, the Trent 1000 ALPS, is expected to be an available option as early as 2020. The head of Pratt and Whitney told the Wall Street Journal, "Engines are no longer commodities...the optimization of the engine and the aircraft becomes more relevant." Both GE and R-R wanted an exclusive deal on the neo, however GE dropped its bid to be the engine supplier of the neo after Boeing chose them to be the exclusive engine supplier for their upcoming Boeing 777X.^[9]

Variants

Airbus will be offering two variants of the A330neo. The A330-800neo (which will directly replace the Airbus A330-200) and the A330-900neo (which will directly replace the Airbus A330-300).^[1] The A330-800neo will seat 252 people in a typical two-class layout (6 more than its predecessor) and the A330-900neo will seat 310 people in a two class layout (10 more than its predecessor).^[7] Both variants will also have more range than their predecessors.

Orders

Following the A330neo programme launch at Farnborough in July 2014, Airbus signed memorandums of understanding for 121 aircraft.^[10] The 121 total commitments were from three airlines, and three leasing companies. AirAsia X committed to 50 A330-900neos,^[11][12] Transaero Airlines committed to 12,^[13] and an unnammed Asian customer committed to four aircraft. Air Lease Corporation announced their commitment for 25 A330neos,^[14] the CIT Group committed to 15 aircraft,^[15] and Avolon committed to 15 aircraft.^[16]

Following the Farnborough Airshow, Hawaiian Airlines announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for six Airbus A330-800neos, with additional purchase rights for six more A330-800neos.^[17] This new A330neo order replaces the airline's previous order for 12 (six firm, six purchase rights) Airbus A350-800 aircraft.^[18]

On 19 November 2014, Delta Air Lines became the first airline to announce a firm order for the Airbus A330neo by ordering 25 A330-900neo aircraft.^{[19][20][21][22]}
The airline is also the official launch customer for the Airbus A330-900neo.^[23]

On 3 December 2014, CIT Group firmed up their order for 15 A330-900neo aircraft.^[24] On 15 December 2014, AirAsia X announced a firm order for 55 Airbus A330-900neo aircraft, five more than the original 50 aircraft the airline signed a Memorandum of Understanding for at the Farnborough Air Show in July 2014. This is the largest single order to date for the A330 Family.^[25] On 18 December 2014, Hawaiian Airlines finalized their order for 6 A330-800neo aircraft, replacing the airline's previous order for the Airbus A350-800 aircraft.^[26] On 23 December 2014 Avolon firmed its order for 15 A330neo aircraft.^[27] On 24 December 2014, Taiwanese carrier Transasia Airways revealed themselves as the unknown customer at the Farnborough Airshow for their commitment to purchase four Airbus A330neo aircraft. The airline announced a firm order for four Airbus A330-800neos.^[28]

On 18 February 2015, Israeli airline Arkia Israel Airlines committed to the purchase of four Airbus A330-900neo aircraft.^[29]

On 9 March 2015, Air Lease Corporation firmed up its order from the Farnborough Airshow for 25 Airbus A330-900neo jets.^[30]

Firm Orders

Notes

Specifications

See also

• Competition between Airbus and Boeing

Related development

• Airbus A330

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Airbus A350 XWB
• Boeing 787 Dreamliner

References

External links

• Details on the Airbus A330 family of aircraft
• A330neo Launch Presentation