Airbus introduces regional A330, page 1

Airbus has unveiled a reduced weight A330-300 for regional operations. Structurally it's identical to the base A330-300, but there are changes to the engines and cabin. It can carry an extra 56 seats over the baseline model, with derated engines, with a 10% increase in economics that will allow it to remain competitive for 20+ years.

The regional version will have a 205 ton MTOW, with a 3,000 nm range. The advantage to this is that in 10 years if the airline decides to go to a long range configuration, then can replace the engines with uprated engines, and remove the extra seats, and go back to a long range configuration.

The short range version is an attempt by Airbus to open the Chinese and Indian markets. They are attempting to induce a launch customer from China in early 2014, and aims to expand to India, the Middle East, and southeast Asia eventually.

Airbus's regional variant of the A330-300 will be structurally identical to its baseline model, but with changes made to its cabin to allow for a reduced maximum take-off weight.

At the Aviation Expo in Beijing, where it launched the variant, Airbus said the aircraft’s MTOW will be reduced to 205t from the standard 235t, and its range cut to 3,000nm.

Its engines will also be de-rated, although it could not immediately indicate how much its thrust would be lowered. The majority of the changes will, however, be made to the jet’s cabin, cutting down on galley space and crew rest areas to put in more seats.

A standard A330-300 has some 300 seats. With the change, 56 seats can be added to the lower-weight variant.

“We don’t intend to change the airframe. But we optimise it by changing the cabin to set up more seats, less galleys, de-rate the engine, optimise it for a 200t aircraft,” says Airbus chief executive Fabrice Bregier. “But in 10 years’ time, if the airline wants to move [the aircraft] to long range, this is also possible. Flexibility is essential.”