Page 9 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2018 Online Magazine

STEADY STATE

Airbus is looking for an uptick in orders for the A330neo Atul Chandra

he entry into service of the A330-
900 neo with TAP Air Portugal, is
expected to spur Airbus to seek
Tgreater market success for its
entry-level widebody jetliner. According to
various industry analysts, the new A330neo
family could end up with a total of anywhere
between 700-1000 orders by 2030. Airbus
would of course, be very pleased with a 1000
aircraft order book for the A330neo and it is
very likely, that there will be a spurt in orders
for the type as existing customers look to
replace their older A330s but this replace-
ment cycle is still some years away.

Airbus has managed to secure orders for 242
A330neos (as of November 30), less than 4.5
years after the programme was launched in
July 2014. The airframer managed to secure
only 22 orders for the A330neo between life, when Kuwait Airways recently ordered eight aircraft. The
January to November and is now keen to first A330-800 for Kuwait Airways is slated for delivery in 2020.
inject greater momentum for A330NEO sales The airline also has A350 XWB and A320neo Family aircraft on
efforts. A positive sign was the order by U.S order and deliveries start in 2019. Hawaiian Airlines was the first
carrier Delta Air Lines, which expanded its customer for the A330-800 but ended up cancelling the order
A330neo order book in November by adding and going for the 787 instead. The A330neo family comprises
10 additional Airbus A330-900s making for of the A330-800neo and A330-900neo and deliveries were to
a total of 35 aircraft. have commenced in Q4 2017.

There will be concern however, on the fate of The A330-900neo was due to make its Asian debut with AirAsia
28 A330-900neos ordered by Iran Air. The X, whose deliveries of aircraft on order start in Q4 2019. However,
slow selling A330-800 received a lease of it now appears that Lion Air will introduce the A330-900neo into

ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE November/December 2018 | 9