In its daily service with a
growing number of customers worldwide – including operators throughout
the Asia-Pacific region – the A330 is living up to its motto: “The right
aircraft, right now.”
This twin-engine workhorse is utilized in a full
range of applications, from regional passenger flights and freight
transportation to VVIP service and mulch-role military duties for
airlift and in-flight refueling missions.
Airbus has booked orders for nearly 1,190 A330s to
date, of which almost 850 have been delivered. With the backlog
continuing to grow, Airbus has boosted its A330 production rate to 10
aircraft monthly. Another ramp-up to 11 per month is now anticipated,
which could be reached by early 2014.
“There has been renewed demand for this very popular
aircraft in recent years – even going beyond our forecasts – thanks to
its flexibility, proven reliability and low operating costs,” Airbus
President and CEO Tom Enders told reporters at the Singapore Airshow.
“Last year, we won almost 100 new orders worldwide for the A330, with
half of the total coming from Asia-Pacific, and we fully expect the
momentum to continue.”
Enders said enhancements are being considered to
further improve the A330’s performance and efficiency, citing two
examples: an increase in the maximum takeoff weight; and the
incorporation of large wingtip devices similar to the Sharklets
developed for Airbus’ A320 Family aircraft.
“We hope to make some decisions on these
enhancements later in the year, with the aim of ensuring that our A330
remains a preferred choice of airlines for many years to come,” Enders
added.
No comments:
Post a Comment