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About the Airbus A330

Learn about the Airbus A330: specs, seating, range & airlines that fly it

Airbus A330 in the air

About the Airbus A330

The Airbus A330 is a wide body twin-engine jet airliner that was created by Airbus. The Airbus A330 has over ten variants (passenger, cargo and military), all of which make up the Airbus A330 family.

Aircraft within the Airbus A330 family are usually used on flights that are either medium-haul or long-haul and can carry up to 440 passengers or 70 tonnes of cargo.

The original Airbus A330 model was the A330-300, which flew its first flight in 1992 and started commercial operations in 1994. In 1998, the Airbus A330-200 was created, which was a shorter variant of the plane.

Together, the A330-300 and A330-200 are referred to as the A330ceo (current engine operation), these jets are currently being replaced by updated versions A330-800 and A330-900, which are collectively known as the A330neo (new engine option).

Delta plane in the sky

Which airlines fly the Airbus A330?

The Airbus A330 is one of the most widely used wide-body aircraft in the world and is used by airlines across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.

Some of the most well-known airlines that operate Airbus A330 aircraft include Delta Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, KLM, SWISS, Virgin Atlantic, Saudia, and Malaysia Airlines.

Because airline fleets are regularly updated, the exact aircraft used can vary depending on the route, season, and availability. If you're looking to fly on an Airbus A330, Alternative Airlines will show you the aircraft type during the booking process.

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How to book flights on an Airbus A330

If you’d like to fly on an Airbus A330, you can search and book your flights easily with Alternative Airlines!

  1. Search your route by entering your departure and destination airports, travel dates, and passenger details.
  2. View your results and compare flights across hundreds of airlines worldwide.
  3. Use our Aircraft Filter to show only flights operated by the Airbus A330.
  4. Select your flight and continue to checkout to complete your booking.


Please note: aircraft type can sometimes change due to operational reasons, so it’s always worth checking your booking details closer to departure.

Specification Airbus A330-300 Airbus A330-200 Airbus A330-800 Airbus A330-900
Range 11,750 km 13,450 km 15,100 km 13,400 km
Length 63.66 m 58.82 m 58.82 m 63.66 m
Height 16.79 m 17.39 m 17.39 m 16.79 m
Wingspan 60.30 m 60.30 m 64 m 64 m
Track 10.68 m 10.68 m 10.68 m 10.68 m
Wheelbase 25.38 m 22.18 m 22.18 m 25.38 m
Max. cabin width 5.26 m 5.26 m 5.26 m (Main Deck) 5.26 m
Cabin length 50.36 m 45.00 m 45.00 m 50.36 m
Max ramp weight 242.90 tonnes 242.90 tonnes 251.90 tonnes 251.90 tonnes
Max. fuel capacity 139,090 litres 139,090 litres 139,090 litres 139,090 litres
Max take-off weight 242.00 tonnes 242.00 tonnes 251.00 tonnes 251.00 tonnes
Max landing weight 187.00 tonnes 182.00 tonnes 186.0 tonnes 191.0 tonnes
Max zero fuel weight 175.00 tonnes 170.00 tonnes 176 tonnes 181.00 tonnes
Max. possible passenger seats 440 406 406 440
Typical seating (3-class) 250–290 210–250 220–260 260–300
A flight cabin with a view of the aisle

Features of the A330

Extra space

The Airbus A330neo gives passengers a minimum seat-width of 17" (Economy Class), with more width in Comfort Economy and Premium Economy and significantly more in Business/First. Additionally, the neo jets give 66% more room in the overhead baggage compartments. The flight crew rest area on the Airbus A330neo is located on the lower deck of the aircraft, giving more space to passengers in the main cabins.

In-flight entertainment

The A330neo uses the latest 4th generation in-flight entertainment system, with personalised LCD TV screens and a mix of the most recent and classic entertainment. The A330neo also has fully WIFI enabled, meaning that passengers can keep up with life on the ground by checking emails and their social media channels through their own personal devices.

Versatility

The Airbus A330 is able to fly any route between 20 minutes and 17 hours, without stopping. This makes it one of the most versatile wide body aircraft in the world.

The plane also offers a number of different cabin classes (differing for each airline), that includes Economy, Comfort Economy, Premium EconomyBusiness Class and First Class. This gives passengers the option to choose a cabin with a service/price balance that's good for them.

Eco-friendly

The Airbus A330neo uses new materials including titanium pylon and composite nacelle. As a result, the Airbus A330neo is expected to burn 25% less fuel than its previous generation competitors.

Stylish

The A330 cabin is carefully and sleekly designed. The latest generation featured LED mood lighting and smart design.

Hygienic

Toilets on the Airbus A330 feature antibacterial surfaces and touchless technology that stops germs from spreading throughout the cabin.

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Airbus A330 FAQs

How many Airbus A330 are there in service?

As of September 2019, there are 1,403 Airbus A330 in service. This includes 619 A330-200s and 746 A330-300s. This number is expected to rise by over 250 in 2020 with the delivery of the Airbus A330neo jets.

How much does Airbus A330 cost?

The price of the Airbus A330 varies depending on the variation of the model and the design weights and engine choices. Here's an average price list:

  • Airbus A330-300 — $264.2 million USD
  • Airbus A330-200 — $238.5 million USD
  • Airbus A330-800 — $259.9 million USD
  • Airbus A330-900 — $317.4 million USD
How many passengers does the Airbus A330 carry?

The maximum number of passengers that the Airbus A330 can carry is 440. Both the Airbus A330-300 and Airbus A330-900 can carry up to 440 passengers, whereas the A330-200 and A330-800 can carry up to 406 passengers.

However, the number of seats that are actually on aircraft will depend on the airline that uses the aircraft and the cabin class layout that they choose.

Is the Airbus A330 safe?

The Airbus A330 is a very safe aircraft, it undertakes regular safety checks and has been approved by the US Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Because of its wing design, you can sometimes feel turbulence on the Airbus A330 more than you would on some other planes. However, turbulence relates to discomfort rather than safety and the Airbus A330 is still extremely safe.