Recently we posted an article on the tremendous improvements Airbus has brought to the A330. The common thinking is that the 777 killed the A340 – but there is an argument to be made that the A330 did this. Airbus’ John Leahy presented the company’s enhanced higher gross weight (240t) A330 today. This weight will now apply to both the A330-200 and A330-300. The aircraft has seen impressive performance gains and it looks like they aren’t done yet. Listen to Mr Leahy’s presentation and note the confidence he has in this airplane and its ability to take on the more modern 787.
I have the feeling Sharklets will be A330 news at PAS2013 and be on the first 240t A330 in 2015 anyway..
The A330 Re-engining business case, that has been under consideration for 12 yrs now, is probably influenced by A330 cargo and passenger market demand, 787/A350 ramp up/ maturation, A350-800 demand, willingness of GE to invest.. Airbus is wisely keeping quiet on the topic, until they reach a conclusion themselves..
As aircraft are long term investments…. The A350XWB is going to be even more late to delivery. Now it is clear. He even said it, “If you had to wait for 4 or 5 years for a 350 or a 787 compared to getting a 330 today…” you could make more money.
And surely, Addison Schonland “noted the confidence” in the salesman of his last car and bought on the spot! The deal was clinched after his salesman said, “If you had to wait couple of years for the car you really want compared to this spruced up brand new late 80’s design, you could save more money!”
RH, maybe 787/A350 production slots are sold out for the next 4, 5 years?
About a late eighties design, I’ve even seen some brand new sixties designs at this show, confidently being promoted to make more money..
Is this the guy who told us that the A340 is better than any 777 ever will be and who tried to counter the 787 with a simple A330 derivative? So when the A330 can take on the 787, why the hell is Airbus dumping billions in the development of the A350?
I think the true story is, that Airbus is preparing for delays in the A350 program, which will push EIS of the -800 beyond 2016. With a beefed up A330 Airbus would have at last something, they could offer to their customers.
It is natural PD isn’t it? Also a bit of finally giving that thing more wings.
“Is this the guy who told us that the A340 is better than any 777 ever will be and who tried to counter the 787 with a simple A330 derivative?”
The simple A330 sold 750 since the launche of the Dreamliner. Makes you think if they had listened to him.. EIS 2008..
“So when the A330 can take on the 787, why the hell is Airbus dumping billions in the development of the A350?”
Take out the 777?
“To be honest,” only salesman Leahy himself couldn’t have said it better, “production slots are sold out for the next 4, 5 years.” It’s right out of his salesman mouth.
“What many fail to identify,” there must still be some old A330 proponents within the Airbus ranks still fuming their updated A330 didn’t get the A350 designation. Surely they are still a powerful contingent, and lobby for Airbus investment keeping the old beast alive.
So Leahy is at his best, “if you can’t convince them, confuse them,” with some money making scheme proving this new A330-300-240T is all worth sinking fewer millions less than a better A350-800 scheme. “What many fail to identify” is, surely there are a few A350-800 slots open just a few years later, but, “to be honest,” this 240T’er just may finally kill the -800 for good.
To be honest, the A330 contingent inside Airbus have been appeased having finally proven themselves. To be honest.
@Hamburg_Spectator – “I think the true story is, that Airbus is preparing for delays in the A350 program, which will push EIS of the -800 beyond 2016. With a beefed up A330 Airbus would have at last something, they could offer to their customers.”
Yes, but they also need a plane to replace the A350XWB-800. We’ve seen Airbus trying to migrate -800 customers to their -900 model. Surely, as the -800 is a shrunk -900 it’ll be dog. An upgraded A330-300 is a close fit, well, it is the best they can do as the first out -900 EIS is pushed closer to the end of the decade, leaving the only production slots available in the next decade.
“To be honest,” only salesman Leahy himself couldn’t have said it better, “The simple A330 sold 750 since the launche of the Dreamliner.” “Airbus A350 is to Take out the 777.”
“What many fail to identify,” is Leahy’s alter ego right here among us.
@keesje, “some brand new sixties designs at this show”
My apologies, yes, the A330 being a stretched A300 is a “sixties design.”
Now, if only those sharkfin blended winglets didn’t add so much weight and require wing strengthening…. this A330-300-240T would perform even better. Lord knows, and to be honest, we don’t need any more wing problems.
@RH It sounds like you would love some more wing problems. To call a A330 a modified A300 is, erm, to be honest, not making the rest of the “fuming” posts very……. informative. As is calling Keesje JL’s alter ego. Sad really.
@Both The sixties “base design” issue is moot and you you know it. There is virtually no fastener the same in a 737 today as was in its early versions.
Carry on, nothing to see here 🙂
@Jeroen Over the years you may have noticed our dear friend, “from Amsterdam,” is fond of cliches… well, I guess you’ve not noticed.
Anyway, even with Leahy’s (JL’s) pronouncements the A350XWB-800 is virtually gone. By the time the -900 is finished up who’s going to remember his words? And, why should he care?
This big stuff needs much bigger ego’s than those at the nearest Peugeot dealership. And, some aspire to that, yes, the Peugeot dealership job. That’s ok unless there’s some religious history, especially when it’s sprinkled with cliches.
“Carry on, nothing to see here.” 🙂