Saturday, July 20, 2013

DTN News - AIRLINES NEWS: Airbus Delivers Its 1,000th A330 To Cathay Pacific

DTN News - AIRLINES NEWS: Airbus Delivers Its 1,000th A330 To Cathay Pacific
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Airbus
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 20, 2013: Airbus has celebrated the delivery of the 1,000th A330. The aircraft, an A330-300 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, was handed over to Cathay Pacific Airways at special ceremony in Toulouse today. Cathay Pacific together with its sister airline Dragonair is the world’s largest operator of the A330, with a total of 56 now in service.

The 1,000th delivery comes as the A330 continues to enjoy increasing popularity with airlines across the globe. Continuously enhanced to maintain its economic advantage, the aircraft remains the most cost-efficient twin engine widebody in service today for both regional and long haul routes, with the latest versions capable of flying non-stop on sectors of up to 7,250 nautical miles / 13,420 km. The spacious cabin is a firm favourite with passengers, offering the best comfort in its category and the latest state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment systems and connectivity options.   

“The A330 has played an integral part in Cathay Pacific’s growth and we look forward to continuing our successful partnership in the future,” said Ivan Chu, Chief Operating Officer, Cathay Pacific Airways. “The A330 is the backbone of our mid-size fleet and we are delighted with the reliability, flexibility and above all the economics of this great aircraft. We are very proud to be the recipient of the 1,000th A330.”

“It is of particular importance for us to be celebrating this 1000th A330 delivery milestone with our long-standing partner Cathay Pacific Airways,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “The A330 offers the lowest operating costs of any aircraft in its category in service today and is unmatched even by the latest competing aircraft. The fact that a world-leading airline such as Cathay Pacific Airways has placed so many repeat orders says it all.”

Since its first delivery of the A330 in 1995, Cathay Pacific’s Airbus fleet now comprises 38 A330-300s and 11 A340s, while Dragonair flies 21 single aisle A320 Family aircraft and 18 A330-300s. The Cathay Pacific Group has outstanding orders for 10 more A330-300s. The airline will also take delivery of 48 all-new A350 XWBs in the future, including 46 ordered from Airbus and two leased aircraft.

The wide market appeal of the A330 Family is demonstrated daily by over 100 operators, including network carriers, low cost, charter and flag carriers, who fly A330s on all missions from 30 minutes to over 14 hours. About 1.2 billion passengers have enjoyed travelling on board the light, bright and spacious A330 cabin to and from the 300 airports it serves today. More than 1,250 A330s have been ordered to date.

The A330-300 brings Airbus widebody efficiency to airline operations on longer-haul routes.
RANGE AND COMFORT

The stretched-fuselage A330-300 matches twin-engine efficiency with increased passenger capacity – all while retaining the A330 Family’s highly comfortable, low-noise cabin and operating commonality with the entire Airbus fly-by-wire product line.  This jetliner currently has a range of up to 5,570 nautical miles while carrying 300 passengers in a typical two-cabin arrangement, seating 36 in first or business class at a 60-inch seat pitch, and 264 in economy at 32-inch pitch. 

Its designed-in flexibility allows airlines to integrate Airbus’ innovative crew rest facilities without giving up revenue passenger seats.  A secure flight crew location next to the cockpit accommodates one or two bunks, while a pallet-mounted rest area with up to seven bunks for cabin personnel is designed for loading under the main deck, with accessibility via a stair in the centre-left passenger cabin. 

As a member of the popular A330 Family, the A330-300 benefits from demonstrated reliability, performance and unbeatable operating costs of the product line, in service to more than 300 airports worldwide, logging 25 million-plus flight hours on more than 5.5 million flights with over 100 operators. 

Many also profit from Airbus commonality: some 20 A330 customers utilise both A330-300s and the shorter-fuselage A330-200; while pilots with approximately 30 carriers practice mixed-fleet flying by using A330-300/200 jetliners along with four-engine A340s, or A330s alongside single-aisle A320 Family aircraft.

The A330-300 incorporates Airbus’ latest technology, which includes its digital fly-by-wire flight controls, a high-efficiency wing, and more than 10 tonnes of lightweight composite structures in its airframe. A lighter, brighter and more spacious cabin results from updated features that include smoother contours, new interior styling, state-of-the-art LED lighting and newly-designed air conditioning units.  Also available is appealing mood lighting and a choice of overhead storage options with optimised bin designs.

Airbus’ 222-inch fuselage cross-section provides unmatched comfort on the main deck, while also offering large underfloor holds that open up opportunities for extra revenue from cargo.  These holds accept industry-standard LD3 containers in side-by-loading, facilitating cargo processing and interlining.  In a typical arrangement, six 96-inch pallets or 18 LD3 containers can be accommodated in forward zone; while its aft cargo hold can handle such loads as 12 LD3 containers along with one 96-inch pallet, plus bulk cargo.

Caring for the environment, the A330 Family environmental footprint is better than the standards of today and tomorrow.  With its low noise and emissions levels, A330s fly greener and quieter – supported by Airbus’ long-term commitment to further enhancing the eco-efficiency of its jetliner product line.


With the 242-metric-tonne increased maximum takeoff weight version, the A330 will bring increased fuel efficiency thanks to aerodynamic refinements and engine enhancements.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Airbus
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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