Industry Airbus A330-800 receives EASA and FAA Type Certification

A joint type certification for the Airbus A330-800 was issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This latest news mean, that the way for entry into service this year is paved.

Aircraft MSN1888 successfully completed the aircraft´s certification flight-test campaign in 370 flights hours and 132 flights. The aircraft performed its first flight back in November 2018 from the manufacturer´s facilities at Toulouse.

The A330-800 is the smaller version of the new-generation A330 Family, which also consists of the A330-900. New Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines power the aircraft and make it one of the most efficient entry-level widebody aircraft on the market.

Airbus has also developed a new 3D-optimized wing and new Sharklets to reduce air drag, in order to minimize the aircraft´s fuel burn. Together with these advances, the aircraft can deliver a 25 per cent improvement in fuel consumption when compared to the generation of older aircraft.

The A330-800 is certified with a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 242tonnes for a range capability of up to 7,500 nautical miles. In a typical configuration, the A330-800 can accommodate between 220 and 260 passengers in a three-class variant. In a single-class high-density configuration, 406 travellers can be welcomed onboard.

Airbus has received 337 firm order for its A330neo Family to date. The -800 variant however is far more unpopular with airlines. After Hawaiian Airlines binned its plans to purchase 14 aircraft, only Kuwait Airways with eight aircraft, Uganda National Airlines Company with two aircraft and undisclosed customers with four aircraft have ordered the A330-800. Airbus decided last year to pull through the development and certification progress of the aircraft.

Airbus´ A330 widebody is one of the most popular aircraft of the manufacturer. To date, it has received over 1,800 orders from 120 customers from around the world. 1,400 A330s are currently in operation. The A330neo Family is based on this A330 platform. Also, the aircraft share the same type-rating as the A350 XWB, which makes it interesting for airlines already operating the A350.

This year, Airbus hopes to deliver the first A330neo to a customer.