– Airline increases recent order to over 60 Airbus aircraft Philippine Airlines (PAL) has placed a firm order with Airbus for an additional 10 A330-300 widebody aircraft. The latest purchase agreement follows a major order from the airline in August for 44 single aisle A321s and 10 A330s under the carrier’s fleet modernisation programme.

For its latest order the airline has selected the 240 tonne high gross weight version of the A330, offering extra range capability. This will enable the airline to operate the aircraft non-stop from Manila to any destination in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to the Middle East and as far as Honolulu in the US.

“This additional order will complete our current medium-to-long range requirements under our fleet modernisation programme,” said PAL Chairman Lucio Tan and PAL President Ramon S. Ang. “With the latest enhanced versions of the A330 we will be providing our passengers the highest levels of in-flight comfort, while benefitting from the low operating costs offered by these super-efficient aircraft.”

“We are extremely pleased that the A330 has been selected by Philippine Airlines to play a key role in its future fleet,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers, Airbus. “This order once again highlights the success of the A330 as the most popular aircraft in its class, offering the lowest operating costs, proven reliability and a great in-flight experience.”

The A330 is one of the most widely-used widebody aircraft in service today. Airbus has recorded over 1,200 orders for the various versions of the aircraft, with more than 900 delivered to 120 customers and operators worldwide. In addition to passenger and freighter aircraft, the A330 is also available in VIP and military transport / tanker variants.

– Airline selects A321 and A330 under fleet renewal programme

August 28, 2012 — Philippine Airlines (PAL) has placed a firm order with Airbus covering 34 A321ceo, 10 A321neo and 10 A330-300s. The aircraft are being purchased under a major fleet modernisation programme at the airline, with deliveries starting in 2013.

The single aisle A321 aircraft are being purchased to enhance the airline’s product offerings on domestic and regional routes, as well as to support alliances with its partner airlines. The widebody A330s will be operated on higher demand regional routes and longer range services to the Middle East and Australia. PAL will announce engine selections for all the aircraft at a later date.

“The orders we are placing with Airbus will play a key role in revitalising PAL and growing trade and tourism in the country, said PAL Chairman Lucio Tan and PAL President Ramon S. Ang. “With these aircraft we will be able to offer more passengers the best the industry has to offer across our Asia-Pacific network. At the same time, we will benefit from the low operating costs associated with new generation aircraft and the reduced impact on the environment.”

“We are extremely pleased that Philippine Airlines has placed its confidence in our aircraft to meet its future requirements,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers, Airbus. “This announcement demonstrates once again the popularity of both the A320 Family and the A330, which remain the leaders in their size categories in terms of operating economics, reliability and passenger comfort.”

The A321 is the largest member of the best-selling A320 Family, which offers the lowest operating costs of any single aisle product line today. These costs will be reduced even further with the arrival of the new engine option (NEO), offering additional fuel savings of 15 per cent. To date, over 8,500 A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and more than 5,200 delivered to 365 customers and operators worldwide.

The A330 is one of the most widely-used widebody aircraft in service today. Airbus has recorded over 1,200 orders for the various versions of the aircraft, with some 900 now flying with 90 operators worldwide. In addition to passenger and freighter aircraft, the A330 is also available in VIP and military transport / tanker variants.

– Aircraft are key element in fleet modernisation programme

April 11, 2012 — Garuda Indonesia, the national carrier of Indonesia, has placed a firm order with Airbus for 11 more A330-300 widebody aircraft. The contract was signed today in Jakarta by Emirsyah Satar, President & CEO, Garuda Indonesia and Tom Williams, Executive Vice President, Programmes, Airbus, in the presence of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron.

The order is the third to be placed by Garuda Indonesia for the A330 since July 2010, with the carrier now having a total of 21 aircraft on firm order for future delivery. All the aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines.

Garuda Indonesia has chosen the latest extended range 235 tonne maximum take-off weight variant of the A330-300. The carrier will operate the aircraft with a premium two class layout on services from its hubs in Jakarta and Denpasar (Bali) to destinations in Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific.

“The A330 has proven to be a key element in the success of the revitalised Garuda Indonesia,” said Emirsyah Satar, President & CEO, Garuda Indonesia. “The low seat mile cost and high passenger appeal make the aircraft a perfect fit for our fleet and a firm favourite with our passengers.”

“We are pleased to extend our long-standing partnership with Garuda Indonesia,” said Tom Williams, Executive Vice President, Programmes, Airbus. “The A330 is undisputed leader in its class. It offers proven reliability, low operating costs and one of the most comfortable cabins in the sky. This winning combination makes it the preferred choice of airlines worldwide and will enable Garuda Indonesia to realise its full potential as a premier international carrier.”

The twin engine A330 is one of the most widely used widebody aircraft in service today. Airbus has recorded nearly 1,200 orders for the various versions of the aircraft and more than 800 aircraft are flying with some 90 operators worldwide. In addition to passenger and freighter aircraft, the A330 is also available in VIP and military transport / tanker variants.

Garuda Indonesia currently operates 14 A330 aircraft, comprising eight A330-200s and six A330-300s.

Growth Of Airbus Widebody Fleet Points To Success With New Type

November 17, 2011 — Honolulu-based Hawaiian Airlines has grown its order for Airbus A330-200s – today signing for an additional five aircraft. Hawaiian became a new Airbus operator just last year and now has a commitment of 22 A330 aircraft – including four that are leased. The airline currently operates five A330-200s.

Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO, said, “Adding these additional A330-200s to our fleet over the next four years will support the continued expansion of our network and replacement of our current 767-300s. Our guests have responded enthusiastically to the cabin comfort and amenities of the A330-200, which, together with the superior service of our front line employees, offer the best airline experience for travelers to Hawaii.”

“This has been our best week of the year in terms of sales, outside the Paris Airshow and it is very gratifying that Hawaiian tops it off with an order for five new A330 wide-bodies to fulfil their ambitious growth plans, “said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “Just a year-and-a-half ago, I said I hoped that Hawaiian‘s passengers and employees would come to love this aircraft, and that hope has proven to be a reality.”

Hawaiian’s new A330s, like their existing A330 fleet, will seat 294 passengers in a comfortable, two-class configuration and have a range of more than 6,000 nautical miles. The A330-200 has excellent operational flexibility, serving a wide range of route structures, and provides operators with very low operating costs per seat. Its proven record of efficiency and superior passenger comfort provides airlines with a significant competitive advantage in today’s market. As of the end of October, there were 433 A330-200s in operation worldwide, with a backlog of firm orders of 131.

Airline Becomes Latest Airbus Customer

October 25, 2011 —Fiji’s national carrier, Air Pacific, has selected Airbus aircraft to renew and to grow its fleet. After a thorough evaluation of several different aircraft, including the B787, the carrier has signed a firm contract to buy three new A330-200 aircraft to replace its existing fleet of B747s and B767s with newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft delivering the lowest operating costs and highest productivity in its category.

The A330-200 aircraft will be delivered in 2013 and operated from Fiji on trans-Pacific routes to Los Angeles and throughout the Asia-Pacific region to Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand.

“The A330 is the most versatile and fuel-efficient aircraft in its category today, and it is clearly the best aircraft for modernising our fleet, optimising our network, and ensuring future growth opportunities as we position Air Pacific to be the preferred airline in the South Pacific,” said Dave Pflieger, Managing Director and CEO of Air Pacific. “We are confident that our customers and visitors to Fiji will be excited about the outstanding comfort and capability of these outstanding new aircraft.”

“The A330 is without question the most eco-efficient, wide-body aircraft in its class. Outstanding reliability, fuel efficiency and low operational costs have made the aircraft a favourite with operators and customers around the world. We are delighted to welcome Air Pacific as a new Airbus customer, and we look forward to being part of their development and growth,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.

With a true wide-body fuselage creating very high comfort standards, the A330-200 is also able to accommodate seat and class configurations and in-flight entertainment options to suit diverse customer requirements. It also has the excellent operational flexibility necessary to serve a wide range of route structures, providing operators with very low operating costs per seat.

Airbus has recorded over 1,100 orders for the A330 Family, with more than 800 aircraft currently flying with more than 90 operators worldwide. In addition to passenger aircraft, the A330 Family also includes freighter, VIP and military transport / tanker variants.

July 13, 2011 —The 800th A330 has been delivered today at a ceremony in Toulouse. The aircraft is an A330-200 Freighter, received by Aircastle Advisor Ltd for operation by HNA Group. This is the third A330-200F for its fleet. To date, over 1,140 A330s have been ordered.

Thanks to the introduction of numerous product improvements, it is the most cost-efficient aircraft in its class. Today the A330 fleet has accumulated nearly 18 million flight hours and over four million landings. With over 80 operators today, the aircraft is achieving an average dispatch reliability above 99 percent.

Maximum Efficiency On Long-Haul Routes

July 1, 2011 — Garuda Indonesia, the national carrier of Indonesia, has signed a new firm order for four A330-300s. The airline has chosen the latest 235 tonne maximum take-off weight variant for long-haul services to all destinations to the Middle East, Asia and Pacific from its hubs in Jakarta and Denpasar. The airline will furthermore convert three previously ordered A330-200s into -300 versions. The agreement was signed in the presence of French Prime Minister François Fillon and His Excellency Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating Minister for Economy of Indonesia.

The new aircraft will join a fleet of seven leased A330-200s and six A330-300s already in service with the airline. This purchase agreement follows an order for six A330-200s signed in July 2010 and will increase the total A330 fleet of Garuda to 23 aircraft. The airline has recently committed to 25 A320s both standard and NEO for its low cost subsidiary Citilink.

“Over the last 15 year, thanks to our A330 Family aircraft, we have benefited from the lowest seat mile cost, true long range capability and proven reliability while our passenger enjoyed very high level of comfort. It is a natural choice for us to continue our successful operations with the A330 Family of Airbus,” said Emirsyah Satar, President & CEO, Garuda Indonesia.

“We are delighted that our relationship with our long-lasting customer, Garuda Indonesia, has been reinforced so strongly in recent weeks. The airline has chosen to become a new operator of our benchmark single aisle A320 Family and will expand its operations with the world’s most efficient widebody aircraft in service today, the A330. These new and repeated orders are a clear vote of confidence,” explained John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers, Airbus.

The twin engine A330 is one of the most widely used widebody aircraft in service today. To date, Airbus has won more than 1,100 orders for the various versions of the aircraft and more than 780 A330s are currently flying with close to 120 customers and operators worldwide. The fleet has accumulated over 17 million flight hours in over 4 million flights and shows a dispatch reliability of 99.6 percent.

Underscores continued popularity of the best-selling mid-size widebody

JUNE 29, 2011 — Singapore Airlines (SIA) has finalised an agreement with Airbus to expand its fleet with 15 more A330-300s. The aircraft will join an existing fleet of 19 A330-300s at the carrier, flying from Singapore to destinations across the Asia-Pacific region and to the Middle East. As with the carrier’s existing A330 fleet, the new aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines.

“We are extremely pleased that Singapore Airlines will add further A330s to its fleet,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers, Airbus. “The news underscores the position of the A330 as the most popular aircraft in its class, offering levels of comfort, efficiency and reliability that continue to make it a winner with airlines worldwide.”

The twin engine A330 is one of the most widely used widebody aircraft in service today. To date, Airbus has won more than 1,100 orders for the various versions of the aircraft and more than 750 A330s are currently flying with over 80 airlines worldwide. In addition to passenger and freighter models, the A330 is also offered in VIP and Military Transport/Tanker variants.

Fleet Growth With Maximum Efficiency

June 20, 2011 — Saudi Arabian Airlines, Saudi Arabia’s national airline, has placed a firm order for four additional A330-300 aircraft in addition to the eight ordered in July 2008, taking the total order for the type to 12.

Saudi Arabian Airlines placed its first order with Airbus in over 30 years in 2007 for 22 A320 Family aircraft and later placed an order for eight A330s. In 2009, Saudia upsized by converting 15 of the A320 orders into the larger A321. Airbus has so far delivered 17 aircraft (five A320s, four A321s and all eight A330s) from the order for 30 before today.

“We are reaping the benefits of operational efficiency and productivity with our new fleet of A330s, and our passengers love it too. The A330 is an important pillar upon which we are building our ambitious expansion plans by simultaneously meeting rising passenger demand and expectations,” said His Excellency Engineer Khalid Al Molhem, Director General of Saudi Arabian Airlines.

Including leased aircraft, and today’s four A330, in the years to come, Saudia’s Airbus fleet will grow to 62 aircraft.

“We embarked with Saudi Arabian Airlines on their ambitious fleet renewal plans three years ago, and we are delighted with the result. This follow on order from one of the Middle East’s longest established airlines is a fantastic endorsement of our products,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers.

The Airbus A330 remains the most economic means of flying some 300 passengers on medium range routes in true long haul comfort. The A330 aircraft offers unbeatable economics, and is the world’s most fuel efficient and productive aircraft on the market.

With a true wide-body fuselage allowing very high comfort standards, the A330-300 is able to accommodate seat and class configurations to suit the diverse customer requirements. It has a range of up to 5,650 nm / 10,500 km with a full passenger load. Highly efficient and optimized for the medium – to extended range market, the A330-300 offers the best balance between range and cost. Orders for the A330 stand at more than 1100, including over 500 A330-300 aircraft.

Eco-Efficient A330 Family Remains The Popular Choice

May 3, 2011 — Korean Air has placed a firm order with Airbus for five A330-200s.The latest purchase agreement increases the total numbers of A330s ordered by Korean Air to 30 aircraft, of which 23 have already been delivered. As with the existing Korean Air A330 fleet, the newly ordered aircraft will be powered by Pratt & Whitney PW 4000 engines.

“Korean Air’s latest order underscores the ongoing success of the A330 with leading airlines worldwide,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer Customers, Airbus. “Combining the highest levels of reliability, outstanding medium and long range capabilities and the lowest operating costs in its class, the A330 is proving time and time again that it is the most efficient aircraft in service today in the mid-size widebody category.”

With a true wide-body fuselage creating very high comfort standards, the A330-200 is able to accommodate seat and class configurations to suit diverse customer requirements. It also has the excellent operational flexibility necessary to serve a wide range of route structures, providing operators with very low operating cost per seat.

Airbus has recorded over 1,100 orders for the A330 Family, with more than 750 aircraft currently flying with more than 90 operators worldwide. In addition to passenger aircraft, the A330 Family also includes freighter, VIP and military transport / tanker variants.

New Levels Of Efficiency On Transatlantic Routes

April 5, 2011 — Virgin Atlantic Airways, has for the first time in its history deployed a twin engine jet to serve on its transatlantic routes, using an A330-300 aircraft. The inaugural passenger flight between Manchester and Orlando, USA, is part of Virgin Atlantic’s commitment to invest in today’s greenest aircraft and to strengthen services from the UK to the US East Coast, East and West Africa, the Middle East and India. The aircraft is the first to be delivered from the ten A330-300s ordered in December 2009.

Julie Southern, Chief Commercial Officer for Virgin Atlantic said, “We are delighted to be welcoming the A330 to our fleet. The arrival of these new aircraft over the next two years marks a period of expansion for the airline. We look forward to increasing services on existing routes as well as adding new long haul routes with these new planes, whilst improving our fuel efficiency. These brand new aircraft will offer our customers high standards of service and comfort onboard.”

Virgin Atlantic’s first two A330-300 aircraft will operate on leisure routes and will have a two class configuration of 59 Premium Economy seats and 255 in Economy featuring the airline’s award winning cabin and service and a revolutionary new in-flight entertainment system. The new cutting edge system uses the latest touchscreen technology allowing passengers to scroll and swipe through over 300 hours of content quickly and easily.

“The A330 really is the aircraft of choice on medium to long haul routes. It offers airlines unparalleled productivity, low fuel burn and reliability, and passenger’s love it too,” says John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.“

With a true wide-body fuselage allowing very high comfort standards, the A330-300 is able to accommodate seat and class configurations to suit diverse customer requirements. It has a range of up to 5,600 nm / 10,400 km with a typical 300 passenger load. Highly efficient and optimised for the medium – to long range market, the A330-300 offers the best balance between range and cost. The A330-300 remains the most economic means of flying 300 or so passengers on medium range routes in true long haul comfort. Orders for the aircraft stand at more than 480.

The A330 Family, which spans 200 to 400 seats for the passenger variants and also includes Freighter, VIP, and Military Transport/Tanker variants, has now attracted more than 1,100 orders.

World’s Most Popular Mid-Size Widebody Stays High In Demand

HONG KONG, March 9, 2011 — Cathay Pacific Airways has placed a firm order with Airbus for 15 more A330-300s. Scheduled for delivery from 2013, the aircraft will join the airline’s existing A330 fleet flying on services across the Asia-Pacific region. As with the airline’s existing A330 fleet, the newly ordered aircraft will be powered by Trent 700 engines from Rolls-Royce.

“The A330 has proved itself to be an extremely efficient and versatile aircraft for Cathay Pacific, flying on Asian regional services and longer operations to the Middle East and Australia,” said Tony Tyler, Chief Executive, Cathay Pacific Airways. “Our latest order reflects our confidence that the A330 will continue to meet our needs well into the future, both economically and operationally, as a key part of our fleet.”
“The latest order from Cathay Pacific underscores the position of the A330 as the most popular mid-size widebody flying today,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer – Customers, Airbus. “The proven reliability, low operating costs and strong passenger appeal offered by the A330 will ensure that it remains the most efficient aircraft in its class for many years to come.”

The twin engine A330 is one of the most widely used widebody aircraft in service today. To date, Airbus has won more than 1,100 orders for the various versions of the aircraft. Some 750 A330s have already been delivered and the aircraft is currently flying with 90 operators worldwide in 50 countries.

Seamless fit into their existing Airbus fleet

February 8, 2011 — South African Airways has become the latest operator of Airbus’ eco-efficient A330 family. The A330-200 is the first of six to be delivered to Aircastle Limited during 2011, all of which will be leased to South African Airways.

Seating 36 passengers in business class and 186 in economy, the aircraft will feature the latest in-flight entertainment and will be used primarily on long haul routes from the airline’s bases in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

The new A330 will join South African Airlines existing Airbus fleet of 11 A319s, 14 A340-200/300s and 9 A340-600s enabling the airline to reap the benefits of Airbus’ unique cockpit and operational commonality. This allows airlines to use the same pool of pilots, cabin crews and maintenance engineers, resulting in operational flexibility and significant cost savings.

“With the new A330s South African Airways continues to modernize its fleet, ensuring we meet our customers’ expectations. Simultaneously, the new A330s will provide savings and efficiencies to support our profitability and growth strategies,” explained South African Airways CEO, Siza Mzimela.

“The A330-200, with its superior economics and proven passenger appeal, will fit seamlessly into the South African Airways fleet,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers. “Airbus has a long history of partnership with South African Airways and the local industry, and we look forward to continuing to build this mutually beneficial relationship.”

With a typical range capability of 7,250 nautical miles (for a two-class configuration), the A330-200 has the versatility to cover all ranges from short-haul to true long haul – ideal for point-to-point operations. A330 cabins are widely recognized as among the best in the sky, offering a bright atmosphere with the quietest cabins in their class.

The reliable and efficient A330 is one of the most widely used widebody aircraft in service today, with one taking off each minute every day. To date, Airbus has won over 1,100 orders for the different models of the aircraft. Some 750 A330s have already been delivered and the aircraft is currently flying with 90 operators worldwide in 50 countries.

Continuing Market Success For Airbus’ Efficient Long-Range A330 Family

January 24, 2011 — GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric [NYSE: GE], has signed a firm order for 12 additional long-range A330-300 aircraft. This new order brings the total number of A330s ordered by GECAS to 32.

“This order adds to our existing portfolio of A330 aircraft,” said Norman C. T. Liu, GECAS President and CEO. “A key part of our strategy is to expand our wide-body product offerings to satisfy customer demand.”

“This repeat order from GECAS underscores the ongoing popularity of the A330, and highlights the strong market demand for the A330-300 in particular” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “The unbeatable economic efficiency and proven passenger appeal of this aircraft make it the perfect choice in today’s market for medium capacity routes.”

Airbus aircraft share a unique cockpit and operational commonality, allowing airlines to use the same pool of pilots, cabin crews and maintenance engineers, bringing operational flexibility and resulting in significant cost savings.

With a true wide-body fuselage allowing very high comfort standards, the A330-300 is able to accommodate seat and class configurations to suit diverse customer requirements. It has a range of up to 5,600 nm / 10,400 km with a typical 300 passenger load. Highly efficient and optimised for the medium – to long range market, the A330-300 offers the best balance between range and cost. The A330-300 remains the most economic means of flying 300 or so passengers on medium range routes in true long haul comfort. Orders for the aircraft stand at more than 480.

The A330 Family, which spans 200 to 400 seats for the passenger variants, also includes Freighter, VIP, and Military Transport/Tanker variants, has now attracted more than 1,100 orders.

New Contract Will Total 22 Long-Haul Airbus Aircraft For Airline

Hawaiian Airlines, which became a new Airbus operator this year, has placed a firm order for an additional six A330-200s. These long-haul, twin-engine, widebody aircraft will join Hawaiian’s fleet of three A330s and an existing backlog of another seven A330-200s and six A350 XWBs.

Hawaiian’s A330-200s transport 294 passengers in a comfortable two-class configuration outfitted with individual in-seat, in-flight entertainment systems. The six additional aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines.

“These additional widebody A330s will give us more flexibility to pursue domestic and international expansion opportunities, replace our existing Boeing 767 fleet and improve our ability to compete profitably in the coming years,” said Mark Dunkerley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hawaiian Airlines.

“The fact that Hawaiian has increased its order for Airbus aircraft within just months of flying their first A330 is a testament to the airline’s satisfaction with the economy, reliability and comfort of our long-haul family,” said John Leahy, Airbus’ Chief Operating Officer – Customers.

With a typical range capability of 6,850 nautical miles (for two-class configuration), the A330-200 has the versatility to cover all ranges from short-haul to true long haul – ideal for point-to-point operations. A330 cabins are widely recognized as among the best in the sky, offering a bright atmosphere with the quietest cabins in their class.

The A330 Family, which spans 250 to 300 seats, and includes Freighter, VIP, and Military Transport/Tanker variants, has now attracted more than 1,100 orders. Orders for the A350 XWB stand at more than 570 from 35 customers.