Gallery: Airbus A330neo route-proving flights continue with TAP

TAP intends to first operate the -900neo on premium routes such as Lisbon-Sao Paulo and Lisbon-New York, but with seven scheduled for delivery by the end of 2018, expects to see the aircraft widely deployed soon to its Americas’ destinations.

The aircraft is powered by the new Rolls-Royce Trent 7000.

The lie-flat business seats and slim-line economy seats are supplied by Recaro, while the IFE systems are Pansonic’s EX3. 

The joint route proving flights, also known as function and reliability tests, are part of the work required by civil aviation authorities and must include short, and long flights as well as flights in different environmental conditions. For the -900neo, these have included flights in Kazakhstan for cold weather, Mexico for hot weather, Bolivia for high altitude, and Ireland for strong wind conditions. 

TAP is configuring its -900neos with 298 seats in a three-class cabin comprising 34 business-class seats 96 economy Xtra seats with a 34-in. seat pitch and 68 regular economy with a 31-in. pitch. 

Airbus has two more -900s participating in the certification program and anticipates completion this summer.

In business, the IFE screen has been certified so that it can be unlocked and extended during takeoff and landing. The center twin seats in the 1-2-1 business cabin alternate between pairs that allow traveling companions to be closer together and pairs that offer more individual privacy.

Airbus has secured 214 firm orders for the -900neo, with customers including AirAsia X, Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines and several lessors.

The A330-900neo has a range of 6,550 nautical miles with a typical seat capacity of 287.

Business-class IFE.