Aircraft Asset Assessment: A330-200

Market Presence. Orders for the A330-200 had marginally outstripped those for the A330-300 as of 2009 but the reverse is now the case with nearly a 100 more orders for the larger version. The A330-200 represents a formidable competitor to the smaller B767-300ER and the lack of success for the B767-400 is due in no small part to the attributes of the Airbus product. As a member of the A330/A340 family, the A330-200 represented the latest that commercial aircraft technology can offer, at least until the service entry of the B787. The structure and interior design are well proven and are finding favor among operators. The A330 offers a wider fuselage diameter than the B767. The B787 however, represents a formidable competitor except that delivery slots are not available for a number of years. By shrugging off the twin versus four engined concept, Airbus had created a good aircraft. While the empty operating weight may be higher than the ideal, the 6,450nm range represents formidable competition. With so many routes requiring range rather than capacity, the A330-200 arrived on the scene at the right time. The A330-200 is offered with a choice of three engine types. On the A330-300, the CF6-80E1 proved to be a problem engine. Improvements to the engine have enabled the CF6 to improve its market position but the PW4000 and Rolls-Royce Trent are considered to be the baseline engine types for the –200.