Airbus to boost A330neo MTOW: Could sales of the widebody pick up?
Airbus is planning to, once again, boost the maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of the A330neo.
Airbus program chief engineer Vincent Lebas told Aviation Week that a 253-tonne MTOW variant would be introduced by the end of 2027.
This is a two tonne upgrade over the current MTOW, equivalent to around 20 more passengers.
The planemaker secured certification for a low-speed performance improvement for the A350-900 in April. It allows optimised takeoffs and early gear retraction, reducing drag and improving performance.
More upgrades for the A330neo
Since entering service in November 2018, the A330neo has steadily evolved through a series of incremental upgrades.
In 2020, Airbus introduced a higher maximum take-off weight (MTOW), increasing from the original 242 tonnes to 251 tonnes.
That new variant offered a 650-nautical mile boost in range – or six tonnes more payload – when compared with the A330-900’s 242-tonne version.
Airbus said at the time that the MTOW increase was achieved through a combination of weight-neutral structural reinforcements and landing gear adaptations.
The maximum seating capacity of the A330-900 was also raised from 440 to 460 in a nine-abreast all-economy layout.
Sales for the A330neo are gaining traction
After a relatively slow start in the marketplace, the Airbus A330neo is beginning to come into its own.
At the Farnborough Airshow in 2024, the A330neo was the most ordered widebody, with 57 firm orders and 60 commitments across the show.
Airbus had pitched the A330neo at its current A330ceo operators, presenting a low-risk option for upgrading to a more efficient platform.
But the aircraft was seven years later to market than Boeing’s alternative, the 787 Dreamliner. According to Cirium, 21 of the 51 A330ceo operators with more than five aircraft have already selected the Boeing 787 for their mid-sized widebody fleet renewal.
With votes of confidence from significant operators like Cathay Pacific, Delta and Virgin Atlantic, the A330neo is starting to gain some traction.
With Airbus planning to make the platform even more attractive with this upgrade, we could see some orders for the type at the forthcoming Paris Air Show.
