Editing Airbus A330 (section)

===Proposed variants===
; A330-400/600
In 1996, Airbus evaluated a 12-frame stretch which would be able to carry 380 passengers over almost {{cvt|7,000|km|nmi mi}}, the -400, and a "super-stretch" using the [[A340-600]]'s 22-frame stretch and powered by {{cvt|400|kN|lbf}} engines, the -600.<ref>{{cite news |date=28 August – 3 September 1996 |page=54 |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1996/1996%20-%202202.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-date=2017-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519153033if_/https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1996/1996%20-%202202.PDF |title=X-tended players |work=Flight International |first1=Max |last1=Kingsley-Jones |first2=Guy |last2=Norris}}</ref>

; A330-100/500
In February 2000, it was reported that a 250-seat A330-100 replacement for the A300/A310 could be launched by year end for 2003 deliveries.<!--<ref name=Flight29feb2000>--> Shortened and keeping its fly-by-wire cockpit and systems, with a cleaner A300-600 wing with sealed control surfaces and winglets and at least two new engine types among the [[GE CF6]]-80, the [[PW4000]] and the A340-500/600's [[Trent 500]] aimed for 5% better [[Thrust specific fuel consumption|SFC]] than the A300-600.<ref name="Flight29feb2000">{{cite news |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-accelerates-plans-to-bring-a330-100-into-service-62666/ |title=Airbus accelerates plans to bring A330-100 into service |date=29 February 2000 |work=Flight International |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307214304/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-accelerates-plans-to-bring-a330-100-into-service-62666/ |archive-date=2018-03-07}}</ref> Its {{cvt|44.8|m}} wing allowed a {{cvt|173|t|lb}} MTOW and {{cvt|7,770|km|nmi|disp=output only}} ({{cvt|7,770|km|km|disp=output only}}; {{cvt|7,770|km|mi|disp=output only}}) range.<!--<ref name=Flight9may2000> --> In May, the 210-260 seat design had evolved towards keeping the A330 {{cvt|60.3|m}} span wing and engines for a 195 t [[maximum take-off weight|MTOW]] and {{cvt|4,500|nmi}} range.<!--<ref name=Flight9may2000> --> Interested customers included Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa and Hapag-Lloyd.<ref name="Flight9may2000">{{cite news |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-rethinks-250-seater-to-keep-a330-commonality--65324/ |title=Airbus rethinks 250-seater to keep A330 commonality |date=9 May 2000 |work=Flight International |author=Julian Moxon |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307214327/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-rethinks-250-seater-to-keep-a330-commonality--65324/ |archive-date=2018-03-07}}</ref>

Announced in July at [[Farnborough Air Show]], the -500 first flight was targeted for early 2003 and introduction in early 2004.<!--<ref name=Flight27July2000> --> [[International Lease Finance|ILFC]] would take 10 if it was launched and [[CIT Group|CIT]] was interested too.<!--<ref name=Flight27July2000> --> The eight-frame shrink would carry 222 in three classes or 266 in two classes.<!--<ref name=Flight27July2000> --> Its initial {{cvt|13,000|km|nmi mi}} range would be followed by derated versions for {{cvt|8,000|km|nmi mi}}.<ref name="Flight27July2000">{{Cite news |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-eyes-2004-for-service-entry-of-a330-500-68716/ |title=Airbus eyes 2004 for service entry of A330-500 |date=27 July 2000 |work=Flight International |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307214403/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-eyes-2004-for-service-entry-of-a330-500-68716/ |archive-date=2018-03-07}}</ref> The market was lukewarm as airlines like Lufthansa, Hapag-Lloyd and Singapore Airlines were unimpressed by the long-range A330-500, favouring a more refined short-range design.<!--<ref name=Flight12Dec2000> --> Lack of airline demand made lessors interest wane and as ILFC would order as 30 -500s, it would be with converting rights to larger A330-200/300.<ref name="Flight12Dec2000">{{Cite news |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airline-rejections-threaten-a330-500-launch--123656/ |title=Airline rejections threaten A330-500 launch |date=12 December 2000 |first1=Max |last1=Kingsley-Jones |first2=Paul |last2=Lewis |work=Flight International |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307214401/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airline-rejections-threaten-a330-500-launch--123656/ |archive-date=2018-03-07}}</ref>
<!-- before:
* {{cite news |title=Airbus focuses on A330 shrink in search for 200-seater |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-focuses-on-a330-shrink-in-search-for-200-seater-55082/ |date=18 August 1999 |first1=Paul |last1=Lewis |first2=Max |last2=Kingsley-Jones |work=Flight International}}
* {{cite news |title= Airbus unveils details of A330 derivative |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-unveils-details-of-a330-derivative-60901/ |date= 18 January 2000 |author= Julian Moxon |work= Flight International}}
* {{cite news |title= Engine makers discuss A330-100 options |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/engine-makers-discuss-a330-100-options-61853/ |date= 15 February 2000 |work= Flight International}}
* {{cite news |title= Airbus keen to proceed with A330-100 by 2003 |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-keen-to-proceed-with-a330-100-by-2003-62440/ |date= 24 February 2000 |work= Flight International}}
-->

; A330-200Lite
To compete with Boeing's [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner#Background|7E7]] (later 787), Airbus offered a minimum-change derivative called the A330-200''Lite'' in 2004. As the name indicated, this proposed variant would have had a lower maximum takeoff weight of {{Convert|202|t|lb|sigfig=3}}, coupled with de-rated engines, giving a range of {{cvt|7400|km|nmi mi|sigfig=2}}.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Ionides |first1=Nicholas |last2=Kingsley-Jones |first2=Max |date=15–21 June 2004 |title=SIA widebody decision expected soon |magazine=Flight International |issue=4938 |volume=165 |page=10 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2004/2004-09%20-%200981.html |access-date=7 October 2013 |issn=0161-7370}}</ref><ref name="A330-200Lite" /> It was aimed at [[Singapore Airlines]], who had looked to replace its Airbus A310-300s.<ref>{{cite web |title= Emergence of 'A330-200 Lite' Unlikely to Impact Existing Values |publisher= Aviationtoday.com |date= 28 June 2004 |url= http://www.aviationtoday.com/manufacturers/boeing/Emergence-of-A330-200-Lite-Unlikely-to-Impact-Existing-Values_3681.html |access-date= 21 February 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110707193135/http://www.aviationtoday.com/manufacturers/boeing/Emergence-of-A330-200-Lite-Unlikely-to-Impact-Existing-Values_3681.html |archive-date= 7 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title= Singapore not ready to buy 7E7 |work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |date= 26 August 2004 |url= http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Singapore-not-ready-to-buy-7E7-1152549.php|access-date=23 February 2011 |first1=James |last1=Wallace}}</ref> The variant was also to be a replacement for Airbus A300-600Rs and early Boeing 767s.<ref name="A330-200Lite">{{Cite news |agency=Bloomberg News |work=Seattle Times|title=Airbus Looks at Offering Lite A330 To Rival B7E7 |date=29 May 2004 |last=Rothman |first=Andrea |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20040529/airbuslite29/airbus-looks-at-offering-lite-a330-to-rival-7e7 |access-date=29 June 2011}}</ref> Airlines, however, were not satisfied with the compromised aircraft; the company instead proceeded with an entirely new aircraft, the [[A350 XWB]].{{sfn|Gunston|2009|p=253}}