The end of 2020 will signify the end of what has been a successful year for European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. This year has seen the ongoing coronavirus pandemic impact almost every aspect of commercial aviation. Nonetheless, Airbus has been able to enjoy success despite these widespread and varied challenges.
Yesterday we looked at Boeing’s 2020 highlights, but what have been Airbus’s reasons to be cheerful this year?
A smaller neo – the Airbus A330-800
2020 proved a defining year for the development and production of the Airbus A330-800. This is the smaller of the A330 family’s two ‘neo’ (new engine option) variants. It represents a next-generation version of the original A330-200, with the larger -900 neo corresponding to the original -300 variant.
Within the neo family, customers are faced with a choice between longer range and better capacity. The -800 has a typical three-class capacity of 257 passengers and a range of 15,094 km (8,150 NM). Meanwhile, the -900 typically seats 287 passengers across three classes, but has a shorter range of 13,334 km (7,200 NM). Most customers have opted for the -900 variant, which launched commercially in December 2018 with TAP Portugal.
Read more: A Winning Year For Airbus – Success Despite A Pandemic