Airbus Updates No.1118

Air Namibia takes delivery of its first Airbus A330

A330s to modernize long-haul fleet.

27 SEPTEMBER 2013 PRESS RELEASE

Air Namibia, the Windhoek based national airline of the Republic of Namibia, has taken delivery of its first A330-200 from Airbus at a ceremony in Toulouse, France. The aircraft is the first of two A330s being leased by Air Namibia from US lessor Intrepid. The airline’s A330 features a two-class cabin layout seating 244 passengers which comprises 30 business class seats and 214 economy class seats.  

Air Namibia started commercial services with its first Airbus aircraft in 2006 with an A340-300. The airline currently operates four A319s on regional routes, as well as two A340-300s on its flagship service from Windhoek to Frankfurt.  

‘’The high efficiency and low operating costs of the A330 makes it a perfect fit into our fleet. 

With an aircraft we know to be both reliable and comfortable it will offer the best flight 

experience to our passengers.“ said Ms Theopoltina M. Namases, Managing Director of Air 

Namibia. 

“We are delighted to welcome Air Namibia as a new A330 operator,” said John Leahy Airbus

Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “The airline will benefit from unparalleled fuel efficiency

and reliability and the passengers from the most comfortable cabin in its class. The unique

fleet commonality between Airbus aircraft families allows the A330 to fit seamlessly into Air Namibia’s existing fleet.’’

The A330 Family, which spans 250 to 300 seats, and includes Freighter, VIP, and Military Transport/Tanker variants, has now attracted more than 1,250 orders, with over 1000 aircraft flying with close to 100 operators worldwide. The A330 is one of the world’s most efficient aircraft with best in class operating economics. With numerous ongoing product improvements, it still remains the most cost-efficient and capable aircraft, averaging dispatch reliability well above 99 percent.

Airbus Updates No.1078

Airbus delivers its 1,000th A330 to Cathay Pacific

New milestone for best-selling widebody

19 JULY 2013 PRESS RELEASE

Airbus has celebrated the delivery of the 1,000^th A330. The aircraft, an A330-300 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, was handed over to Cathay Pacific Airways at special ceremony in Toulouse today. Cathay Pacific together with its sister airline Dragonair is the world’s largest operator of the A330, with a total of 56 now in service.

The 1,000^th delivery comes as the A330 continues to enjoy increasing popularity with airlines across the globe. Continuously enhanced to maintain its economic advantage, the aircraft remains the most cost-efficient twin engine widebody in service today for both regional and long haul routes, with the latest versions capable of flying non-stop on sectors of up to 7,250 nautical miles / 13,420 km. The spacious cabin is a firm favourite with passengers, offering the best comfort in its category and the latest state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment systems and connectivity options.   

“The A330 has played an integral part in Cathay Pacific’s growth and we look forward to continuing our successful partnership in the future,” said Ivan Chu, Chief Operating Officer, Cathay Pacific Airways. “The A330 is the backbone of our mid-size fleet and we are delighted with the reliability, flexibility and above all the economics of this great aircraft. We are very proud to be the recipient of the 1,000^th A330.”

“It is of particular importance for us to be celebrating this 1000^th A330 delivery milestone with our long-standing partner Cathay Pacific Airways,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “The A330 offers the lowest operating costs of any aircraft in its category in service today and is unmatched even by the latest competing aircraft. The fact that a world-leading airline such as Cathay Pacific Airways has placed so many repeat orders says it all.”

Since its first delivery of the A330 in 1995, Cathay Pacific’s Airbus fleet now comprises 38 A330-300s and 11 A340s, while Dragonair flies 21 single aisle A320 Family aircraft and 18 A330-300s. The Cathay Pacific Group has outstanding orders for 10 more A330-300s. The airline will also take delivery of 48 all-new A350 XWBs in the future, including 46 ordered from Airbus and two leased aircraft.

The wide market appeal of the A330 Family is demonstrated daily by over 100 operators, including network carriers, low cost, charter and flag carriers, who fly A330s on all missions from 30 minutes to over 14 hours. About 1.2 billion passengers have enjoyed travelling on board the light, bright and spacious A330 cabin to and from the 300 airports it serves today. More than 1,250 A330s have been ordered to date.