Editing Airbus A330 (section)

===Further developments===
[[File:A6-DCA Etihad Airways Airbus A330-243F (31902400564).jpg|thumb|The A330-200F freighter was first delivered to [[Etihad Airways|Etihad]] Cargo in July 2010.]]

Initially, the [[General Electric GE90|GE90]] was only one of three [[Boeing 777]] options, and [[GE Aviation]] then-CEO [[Brian H. Rowe]] would have paid for the development of putting it on an A330; however, Airbus' strategy for long-haul was the four-engine [[A340]], missing the market favouring twins.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://leehamnews.com/2017/12/14/top-airbus-officials-scoffed-leahys-50-market-share-goal/ |title=Top Airbus officials scoffed at Leahy's 50% market share goal |author=Scott Hamilton |date=14 December 2017 |work=Leeham |access-date=14 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129153740/https://leehamnews.com/2017/12/14/top-airbus-officials-scoffed-leahys-50-market-share-goal/ |archive-date=29 November 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Responding to lagging [[Airbus A300|A300-600F]] and [[Airbus A310|A310F]] sales, Airbus began marketing the Airbus A330-200F, a freighter derivative of the A330-200, around 2001.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-aims-to-fill-freighter-void-with-a330-derivative-205407/|title=Airbus aims to fill freighter void with A330 derivative|work=Flightglobal |date=14 March 2006|access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref> The freighter has a range of {{cvt|7400|km|nmi mi|adj=on|sigfig=2}} with a {{Convert|65|t|lb|sigfig=2}} payload, or {{cvt|5900|km|nmi mi|sigfig=2}} with {{convert|70|t|lb|sigfig=2}}.<ref name=":A330-200F range">{{cite web|title=A330-200F / Range |publisher=Airbus S.A.S. |url=http://www.airbus.com/aircraftfamilies/freighter/a330-200f/performance/|access-date=28 January 2011|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423162153/http://www.airbus.com/aircraftfamilies/freighter/a330-200f/performance/ |archive-date=23 April 2011}}</ref> The plane utilises the same nosegear as the passenger version; however, it is attached lower in the fuselage and housed in a distinctive bulbous "blister fairing". This raises the aircraft's nose so that the cargo deck is level during loading, as the standard A330's landing gear results the plane having a nose-down attitude while on the ground.<ref name="Blister fair">{{cite web|first=Max|last=Kingsley-Jones|title=PICTURES: First Airbus A330-200F shows off nose-gear blister fairing |work=Flightglobal|date=4 August 2009 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-first-airbus-a330-200f-shows-off-nose-gear-blister-fairing-330563/|access-date=7 October 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121104041344/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-first-airbus-a330-200f-shows-off-nose-gear-blister-fairing-330563/|archive-date= 4 November 2012}}</ref>

The A330-200F made its maiden flight on 5 November 2009.<ref name="A330-200F 1st flight">{{Cite news |last=Kingsley-Jones |first=Max |title=A330-200F touches down after successful maiden flight |work=Flightglobal |date=5 November 2009 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/a330-200f-touches-down-after-successful-maiden-flight-334435/ |access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Airbus flies new freighter it hopes to build in U.S. |agency=Reuters India |date=6 November 2009 |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-43690620091106 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104172611/http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-43690620091106 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 January 2016 |access-date=28 January 2011}}</ref> This marked the start of a four-month, 180-hour certification programme. JAA and FAA certifications were expected by March the following year although approval by the JAA was delayed until April.<ref name="A330-200F 1st flight" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Buyck |first=Cathy |title=A330-200F receives EASA Type Certification |work=ATW Online |date=12 April 2010 |url=http://atwonline.com/aircraft-engines-components/news/a330-200f-receives-easa-type-certification-0427 |access-date=30 January 2011}}</ref> The first delivery was subsequently made to the [[Etihad Airways]] cargo division, Etihad Cargo, in July 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Farnborough: Etihad takes delivery of first A330-200F |work=Flightglobal |date=20 July 2010 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/farnborough-etihad-takes-delivery-of-first-a330-200f-344864/ |access-date=7 October 2013 |last=Reals |first=Kerry}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.airlinesanddestinations.com/airlines/airbus-etihad-display-first-customer-a330-200f-freighter-at-farnborough/ |access-date=25 May 2011 |date=20 July 2010 |title=Airbus Hands Over Etihad's First A330-200F Freighter at Farnborough |publisher=Airlinesanddestinations.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129100154/http://www.airlinesanddestinations.com/airlines/airbus-etihad-display-first-customer-a330-200f-freighter-at-farnborough/ |archive-date=29 November 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 25 September 2013, at the Aviation Expo China (Beijing Airshow), Airbus announced a new lower weight A330-300 variant, optimised for use on domestic and regional routes in high growth markets with large populations and concentrated traffic flows; China and India were recognised as prime targets.<ref name="Airbus_A330-300regional">{{cite web|title=Airbus announces lower weight A330 for regional & domestic operations |publisher=Airbus|url=http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/news-events-single/detail/airbus-announces-lower-weight-a330-for-regional-domestic-operations/|access-date=25 September 2013|archive-date=20 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320061745/http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/news-events-single/detail/airbus-announces-lower-weight-a330-for-regional-domestic-operations/|url-status=dead}}</ref> This variant could carry up to 400 passengers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Airbus beats Boeing with record sales in 2013|url=https://news.yahoo.com/airbus-beats-boeing-record-sales-2013-130818663.html|publisher=AFP|date=13 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114213910/http://news.yahoo.com/airbus-beats-boeing-record-sales-2013-130818663.html |archive-date=14 January 2014 |access-date=2015-07-04 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The increased efficiency, however, comes more from the installation of more seats than any weight reduction. On relatively short, yet congested routes, the A330 competes against single-aisle jetliners. While the A330's operating costs in these conditions are not far above those of the Boeing 737 or Airbus A321, the A320neo and 737 MAX promise more efficiency. Where the frequency of flights cannot be increased, using larger aircraft, such as the A330, is the only available option to increase capacity.<ref>Perrett, Bradley. "Not Tailor Made". ''Aviation Week and Space Technology'', 14/21 October 2013, p. 26.</ref> The first customer for the A330 Regional was announced as [[Saudia]] at the 2015 Paris Air Show.<ref>{{cite news|last1=LeBeau|first1=Phil|last2=Ranasinghe|first2=Dhara |title=Airbus names first customer of A330 regional jet |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/15/airbus-names-first-customer-of-a330-regional.html|access-date=28 June 2015 |work=CNBC|date=15 June 2015}}</ref> In 2018, the unit cost of an A330-200 was US$238.5M, US$264.2M for an A330-300 and US$241.7M for an A330-200F.<ref name="Airbus_prices">{{cite news |title=AIRBUS AIRCRAFT 2018 AVERAGE LIST PRICES* (USD millions) |url=http://www.airbus.com/content/dam/corporate-topics/publications/backgrounders/Airbus-Commercial-Aircraft-list-prices-2018.pdf |date=15 January 2018 |access-date=15 January 2018 |archive-date=13 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713142800/https://www.airbus.com/content/dam/corporate-topics/publications/backgrounders/Airbus-Commercial-Aircraft-list-prices-2018.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>