The origin of the A330 dates to the 1970s as one of several conceived derivatives of Airbus's first airliner, the
A300. The A330 was developed in parallel with the
A340, which shared many common
airframe components, but differed in number of engines. Both airliners incorporated
fly-by-wire flight control technology, first introduced on an Airbus aircraft with the
A320, as well as the A320's six-display
glass cockpit.[1] In June 1987, after receiving orders from various customers, Airbus launched the A330 and A340. The A330 was Airbus's first airliner offered with the choice of three engines: General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce.[2]
The A330-300, the first variant, took its
maiden flight in November 1992, and entered passenger service with
Air Inter in January 1994.[3] Responding to dwindling sales, Airbus followed up with the slightly shorter A330-200 variant in 1998, which has proved more popular. Subsequently, developed A330 variants include a dedicated
freighter, the A330-200F, and a military multi-role
aerial refuelling tanker-transport, the
A330 MRTT.
Since its launch, the A330 has allowed Airbus to expand market share in wide-body airliners. Airlines have selected the A330 as a replacement for less economical
trijets, and versus rival twinjets.
Boeing has offered variants of the
767 and
777 as competitors, along with the
787 which entered service in 2011. Airbus's
A350 also shares this wide-body airliner market. As of November 2022[update], the A330's order book contained 1,764 airframes, of which 1,555 had been delivered and 1,462 were in service.[4] The largest operator is
Delta Air Lines with 61 aircraft.[4]
Replaced by
A330-900 and RP-C3341 is now operated by
SmartLynx Malta RP-C3342 and RP C3344 is Operated by
US Bangla Airlines RP-C3343 is operated by
Air Transat RP-C4435 is operated by
Lion Air and RP-C3346 (PK-LEY) on order RP-C3347 and RP-C3348 was sold back to
Airbus
As of August 2015[update], seven countries have placed order for a total 41 of
Airbus A330 MRTTs, specialised for
air-to-air refuelling tanker operations: Australia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, France, Singapore, and South Korea.[5]
The origin of the A330 dates to the 1970s as one of several conceived derivatives of Airbus's first airliner, the
A300. The A330 was developed in parallel with the
A340, which shared many common
airframe components, but differed in number of engines. Both airliners incorporated
fly-by-wire flight control technology, first introduced on an Airbus aircraft with the
A320, as well as the A320's six-display
glass cockpit.[1] In June 1987, after receiving orders from various customers, Airbus launched the A330 and A340. The A330 was Airbus's first airliner offered with the choice of three engines: General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce.[2]
The A330-300, the first variant, took its
maiden flight in November 1992, and entered passenger service with
Air Inter in January 1994.[3] Responding to dwindling sales, Airbus followed up with the slightly shorter A330-200 variant in 1998, which has proved more popular. Subsequently, developed A330 variants include a dedicated
freighter, the A330-200F, and a military multi-role
aerial refuelling tanker-transport, the
A330 MRTT.
Since its launch, the A330 has allowed Airbus to expand market share in wide-body airliners. Airlines have selected the A330 as a replacement for less economical
trijets, and versus rival twinjets.
Boeing has offered variants of the
767 and
777 as competitors, along with the
787 which entered service in 2011. Airbus's
A350 also shares this wide-body airliner market. As of November 2022[update], the A330's order book contained 1,764 airframes, of which 1,555 had been delivered and 1,462 were in service.[4] The largest operator is
Delta Air Lines with 61 aircraft.[4]
Replaced by
A330-900 and RP-C3341 is now operated by
SmartLynx Malta RP-C3342 and RP C3344 is Operated by
US Bangla Airlines RP-C3343 is operated by
Air Transat RP-C4435 is operated by
Lion Air and RP-C3346 (PK-LEY) on order RP-C3347 and RP-C3348 was sold back to
Airbus
As of August 2015[update], seven countries have placed order for a total 41 of
Airbus A330 MRTTs, specialised for
air-to-air refuelling tanker operations: Australia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, France, Singapore, and South Korea.[5]