Editing Airbus A330 (section)

====A330-300HGW====
[[File:Delta Air Lines, N822NW, Airbus A330-302 (24661682692).jpg|thumb|The first {{cvt|242|t|lb}} A330-300 was delivered to [[Delta Air Lines]] in May 2015.]]

In 2000, it was reported that Airbus was studying an A330-300 version with a higher gross weight. It was named A330-300HGW and had a takeoff weight of {{convert|240|t|lb|sigfig=2}}, {{convert|7|t|lb|sigfig=2}} greater than the -300's weight at the time. The version would have a strengthened wing and additional fuel capacity from a {{convert|41600|L|USgal|adj=on|sigfig=3}} centre section fuel tank. The A330-300HGW's range was increased to over {{cvt|11000|km|nmi mi|sigfig=3}}. Among those that showed interest was leasing company ILFC, which sought airliners that could fly from the US West Coast to Europe.<ref name="Longer range A330-300">{{Cite magazine |title=Longer-range A330-300 studied |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2000/2000-1%20-%200487.html |magazine=Flight International |issue=4740 |volume=159 |page=11 |date=1–7 August 2000 |access-date=31 January 2011 |issn=0161-7370 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513173103/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2000/2000-1%20-%200487.html |archive-date=2013-05-13}}</ref>

Power was to be supplied by all three engines offered to A330-200 and A330-300 with lower gross weight. Airbus also considered using the new [[Engine Alliance GP7000]] engine for the A330-300HGW, which would have been the engine's first twinjet application. The −300HGW was to enter airline service in 2004.<ref name="Longer range A330-300" /> However, the -300HGW programme was not launched and quietly disappeared.

The 240-tonne A330 reappeared years later when Airbus announced at the 2012 [[Farnborough Airshow]] that it would be an available option for both the A330-300 and the A330-200.<ref name=aspireaviation2012 /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/airshow-airbus-a-idINL6E8I920R20120709 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104172611/http://in.reuters.com/article/airshow-airbus-a-idINL6E8I920R20120709 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 January 2016 |title=Airbus to tweak A330 design – sources |date=9 July 2012 |work=Reuters |access-date=9 July 2012}}</ref> In November 2012, the maximum take off weight was further increased to 242 tonnes.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.airbus.com/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release-detail/detail/airbus-offers-new-242-tonne-a330-takeoff-weight-capability-to-extend-market-coverage/ |title=Airbus offers new 242 tonne A330 takeoff-weight capability to extend market coverage |date=29 November 2012 |publisher=Airbus |access-date=21 December 2014 |archive-date=21 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221043843/http://www.airbus.com/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release-detail/detail/airbus-offers-new-242-tonne-a330-takeoff-weight-capability-to-extend-market-coverage/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first of these aircraft was delivered to [[Delta Air Lines]] on 28 May 2015.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2015/05/first-242-tonne-a330-300-is-delivered-to-delta-air-lines.html/ |title=First 242-tonne A330-300 is delivered to Delta Air Lines |date=28 May 2015 |publisher=Airbus |access-date=2 January 2020 |archive-date=29 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729063739/https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2015/05/first-242-tonne-a330-300-is-delivered-to-delta-air-lines.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>