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| The first 242-ton maximum takeoff weight A330-300 jetliner on the final assembly line in Tolouse, France. Photo: Airbus |
[Avionics Today 11-10-2014] The final assembly of Airbus’ first A330 with the new 242-ton Maximum Take-Off-Weight (MTOW) capability is underway at the A330 final assembly line in Toulouse, France. The aircraft is currently completing its structural assembly before the cabin integration phase and will be used for certification flight trials. A second aircraft is being assembled in parallel, which is destined for entry in service in the second quarter of 2015 with launch customer Delta Air Lines.
“I am very proud to see the first 242 ton A330 at the final assembly stage only two years after launch,” said head of the Airbus A330 program, Patrick Piedrafita. “Airlines operating the new 242-ton A330 will be able to carry additional payload on longer routes, while at the same time enjoying a very high operational reliability of 99.4 percent.”