Congestion, not narrowbody-beating operating economics, is likely to support sales of the Airbus A330-300 with its new option of low-weight certification. Although Airbus is now offering the aircraft with paperwork for a gross weight as low as 199 metric tons (439,000 lb.) for a range of 4,900 km (2,650 nm), the A330-300 will still have the unchanged wing, engines and structure of an airliner capable of operating at 242 tons and flying 10,800 km.

China Eastern Airlines, in an effort to develop intercontinental services to secondary mainland cities, on Dec. 24 will launch services between Wenzhou Longwan International Airport in eastern China and Rome Fiumicino Airport in Italy. The airline initially will operate a twice-weekly Airbus A330 services on the city pair, says the head of China Eastern’s Rome office, Chen Xiao. According to Wenzhou Airport Group, Rome was chosen because Italy is home to a large number of Europe’s Chinese immigrant community.

BEIJING — South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff in November will consider a navy request to build three air-defense destroyers next decade, doubling its force of ships equipped with the U.S. Aegis system. The proposal is far from a done deal, however, because—even if it is backed by the military—it also will need government and parliamentary approval. The navy made the request to the joint chiefs of staff a year ago, local media report, citing military officials who add that the program is on the agenda for a meeting early next month.