Airbus increases A330 production to meet unprecedented demand

Airbus is to raise the production rate for its A330 Family to ten aircraft a month from the second quarter of 2013.

The European manufacturer currently turns out eight A330 Family aircraft each month. This monthly rate will increase to nine in early 2012, before reaching rate ten in the second quarter of 2013.

“We are increasing the production rate for the A330 Family due to the strong market demand for the aircraft,” said Tom Williams, Airbus’ Executive Vice President Programmes. “In the long-range, mid-size category, the A330 is the right aircraft for airlines worldwide”.

The A330 is not only a bestseller as a passenger airliner but also as a Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, as a VIP aircraft and also as a freighter.

The A330 MRTT achieved civil and military certification in 2010. Currently five are flying with a further four undergoing conversion. Delivery of the first two aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is in the final stages. It is planned to deliver five A330 MRTTs to three customers i- which includes the Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force - in the course of this year.

2010 has also seen five deliveries of the brand new freighter variant to three customers as a first step towards satisfying a market of some 400 new build mid-size freighters over the next 20 years.