Summary
- The A330neo has become the most ordered widebody aircraft in recent weeks.
- The type received nearly 60 firm orders and a further 60 options from four customers.
- Airlines can receive new A330neo aircraft years ahead of a new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The re-engined A330 aircraft has seen a significant order uptick since the July Farnborough Airshow; with 57 firm orders and 60 options placed by four customers, the Airbus A330neo has become the most ordered widebody aircraft in recent weeks. This raises the question of whether the aircraft type is making a comeback.
Gaining popularity
While 51 airlines operated at least more than five of the original series of A330 aircraft (A330ceo) developed by
Airbus
, the updated
Airbus A330Neo
never gained the same traction when it came to popularity or aircraft orders. Data from Cirium shows that 21 of these operators chose to go with the
Boeing 787
Dreamliners when it came time to replace the aging A330s.
However, in recent weeks, the A330neo aircraft has gained 57 new firm orders and an additional 60 options from four customers, making it the most ordered widebody aircraft in recent weeks.
|
Customer |
Flynas |
Virgin Atlantic |
Cathay Pacific |
VietJet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Number of A330s ordered |
15* |
7 |
30 |
20 |
*The 15 A330neos ordered by Flynas are part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which includes a further 75 A320neo aircraft as well.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
The order from
Cathay Pacific
is particularly important because the airline was the fifth-largest operator of the A330ceo. While a majority of its long-haul operations are carried out by the airline’s fleet of Airbus A350s, the incoming fleet of A330neos will replace the aging fleets of A330ceos and Boeing 777s.
Furthermore, with this order, Cathay Pacific will now be the second-largest operator of the A330neo aircraft after
Delta Air Lines
.
Quicker to receive than a Dreamliner
While a portion of the A330ceo customers opted for the Dreamliner when the type first entered the market (7 years before the A330neo), airlines that are now looking to replace their older A330s have the option to either go for the A330neo or the Dreamliners. Data reveals that since the A330neo has a lower order backlog than the Boeing 787s, customers can expect to receive their new A330neo aircraft more than two years earlier than a Dreamliner aircraft.
Photo: SriATR72 | Shutterstock
The Boeing 787 Dreamliners have a backlog of 780 aircraft, which, due to quality control issues at
Boeing
, has production limits placed by the FAA. The A330neo, on the other hand, only has a backlog of 200 aircraft, and though Airbus currently focuses on the production of the A320neo and A350 family aircraft, given sufficient demand, the A330neo production can be upped.
The data shows that the current production rate of the A330neo is approximately a third of that of the A350 and 787s. Despite its lack of popularity compared to the A350, the A330neo is 33% cheaper than the A350 and more versatile in its operations.
Commonality saves costs
Another factor that makes the A330neo favorable for existing A330ceo (or Airbus customers, for that matter) is the assurance of commonality across all Airbus aircraft. With this feature, airlines will have significant cost savings when it comes to crew training to operate the new A330neo.
Photo: Airbus
Airbus states that A350 pilots can benefit from a reduced type rating program to be qualified to fly the A330neo, while the A330ceo pilots transitioning to fly the A330neo only require half a day of computer-based self-study. Cabin crew transitioning from the A330ceo to the A330neo, on the other hand, requires no additional training.
Beyond the crew training, when it comes to maintenance and spare parts, the A330neo commonality will help an airline save a staggering $6 million per aircraft.