Airbus Working To Increase A330neo MTOW

TOULOUSE—Airbus is looking to add two metric tons to the A330-900’s maximum takeoff weight, which promises to yield a 150-nm range improvement for the widebody.

The move will take the takeoff weight to 253 metric tons at the end of 2027, says Airbus program chief engineer Vincent Lebas. The maximum structural payload also will go up, he tells reporters in a briefing ahead of the Paris Air Show.

The program is part of Airbus’ efforts to keep the A330neo fresh after it has started to gain some commercial momentum. Airbus is now sold out to 2028 with the aircraft, says Julien Puyou, who heads the manufacturer's widebody programs.

Most of the production focuses on the A330-900, though Airbus plans for an upgraded multirole tanker/transport for military users that could generate orders for the -800 and also assure commercial customers the aircraft type will be in service for a long time, Lebas says.

Airbus, in April, secured certification for what it calls a low-speed performance improvement for the A330-900. It includes the ability for users to optimize the aircraft’s aerodynamic configuration for takeoff conditions. It also allows for faster landing gear retraction to reduce drag more quickly, improving takeoff trajectory and performance.

In some cases, it could add an ability to take off with 6.9 tons more payload, with the average benefit around 2.6 tons—or the equivalent of about 20 passengers.