As Airbus pitches 251t A330-900neo to PAL
for Trans-Pacific Flight
27 March 2018
Airbus is expecting its new A330-900neo variant with 251t maximum take-off weight (MTOW) powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines to finally cross the Pacific for 15 hours flight towards Southeast Asia on 2020 as it provides additional 650nm range hike compared with the current 242t variant.
The aircraft Manufacturer is putting the range of the new A330-900 with 297 passengers in three classes to 7,200nm, a 1,450nm range increase over typical A330s currently in service, while that for the A330-800 will increase to 8,150nm with its empty weight and maximum zero-fuel weight unchanged at 177t and 172t respectively.
The heavier plane will also feature a new tire and brake system together with reinforcement of main and nose landing-gear.
Airbus said this aircraft will give PAL great flexibility to use either aircraft in their fleet according to network needs in size and range.
The new take-off weight combined with the fuel capacity increase and the additional 10 seats (compared with existing A330-900s) enables PAL to carry additional payload on longer missions to North America that would make the aircraft capable of reaching Manila or Cebu from Los Angeles or San Diego, which would otherwise be too big for the A350-900s.
The additional fuel capacity for the A330 also allows PAL to fly thinner longer distance routes, such as direct flights between Manila to London, Frankfurt or Paris, with the ability to carry additional cargo on the eastbound return flight according to Airbus.
Currently, the A330-800 typically seating 257 in three classes will carry passengers over 7,500nm (with MTOW of 242T). The A330-900 typically seating 287 in three classes will carry passengers over 6,650nm (with MTOW of 242T).
PAL has been using A330 plane since 1996 from the earlier 212t variant for regional destinations to the latter 235t variant in 2012 for Middle East, Australia, and Hawaii operations with longest flight to Honolulu and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with 10-11 hours flying time.
for Trans-Pacific Flight
27 March 2018
Airbus is expecting its new A330-900neo variant with 251t maximum take-off weight (MTOW) powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines to finally cross the Pacific for 15 hours flight towards Southeast Asia on 2020 as it provides additional 650nm range hike compared with the current 242t variant.
The aircraft Manufacturer is putting the range of the new A330-900 with 297 passengers in three classes to 7,200nm, a 1,450nm range increase over typical A330s currently in service, while that for the A330-800 will increase to 8,150nm with its empty weight and maximum zero-fuel weight unchanged at 177t and 172t respectively.
The heavier plane will also feature a new tire and brake system together with reinforcement of main and nose landing-gear.
Airbus said this aircraft will give PAL great flexibility to use either aircraft in their fleet according to network needs in size and range.
The new take-off weight combined with the fuel capacity increase and the additional 10 seats (compared with existing A330-900s) enables PAL to carry additional payload on longer missions to North America that would make the aircraft capable of reaching Manila or Cebu from Los Angeles or San Diego, which would otherwise be too big for the A350-900s.
The additional fuel capacity for the A330 also allows PAL to fly thinner longer distance routes, such as direct flights between Manila to London, Frankfurt or Paris, with the ability to carry additional cargo on the eastbound return flight according to Airbus.
Currently, the A330-800 typically seating 257 in three classes will carry passengers over 7,500nm (with MTOW of 242T). The A330-900 typically seating 287 in three classes will carry passengers over 6,650nm (with MTOW of 242T).
PAL has been using A330 plane since 1996 from the earlier 212t variant for regional destinations to the latter 235t variant in 2012 for Middle East, Australia, and Hawaii operations with longest flight to Honolulu and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with 10-11 hours flying time.
The A330neo is a flop so far and unless someone like AirAsia does an Emirates and confirms/makes a sustainable order, it might not be worth it. PAL is probably better off getting 787s, which have longer range and have proven to be more capable.
ReplyDeleteAirAsia already has 66 orders for the A330neo.
DeleteI really don't think PAL would be well off with a small subfleet of 787s (expensive retraining, etc), not to mention the long waiting list for said aircraft. The 787 is also much too expensive compared to the A330neo. Fleet commonality helps too.
And I wonder how the NEO is supposedly proven to be less capable when it's barely begun commercial service. Really makes you think.
Something about range capabilities and pricing IIRC. They did some analysis and the 787 is said to be more cost effective. If they wanted the A330neo, it would be better to complement the A350 as the A340 replacement, not as an A330 replacement.
DeleteAnd yes, I already know about the AirAsia X A330neo order, but other than that orders are moribund, and it's said that it needs at the very least another AAX order to become viable. Though I suppose that could happen once older A330s are being retired... except many A330 operators are already moving to the 787 and A350.
>Fleet commonality helps too.
They have 777s right? IIRC 777 pilots can fly 787s and vice-versa with minimal extra training, similar to how all Airbus family planes can be flown by the same pilots with a few days of training.
You have a fair point, but I don't think PAL would be willing to wait so long for an aircraft when they could get an equivalent far faster (even more so if they get the A330-800) and far cheaper.
DeleteThe A330Neo is not efficient in trans-Pacific routes. For that service PAL is better off with the 787 in a 8 across economy layout. A330Neo could take over HNL flights, Australia, South Asia, mid-east and some high demand short range flights domestic and in East Asia.
ReplyDeleteIf PAL ordered the 787 there is very little chance they are going to go 8-abreast. The Philippine economy is nowhere near as developed as Japan, the home of the only airline that do that (JAL). Higher CASM = higher costs, and since PAL's primary market is heavily VFR based they will make little money with them.
DeletePAL should just build up their A350-900 fleet, plus possibly the A350-1000.
ReplyDeleteArguably they could serve different niches and both could co-exist: 787s to launch new long-and-thin routes, and A350s to replace the A340s and complement the 777s. The A350-1000 might work as a regional high-capacity aircraft, though the 787-10 might work in that role too.
Delete787s will cost the airline more with retraining and servicing compared to sticking it out with an Airbus fleet.
DeleteIt's like a taxi company sticking to Toyotas instead of adding Volkswagens to their fleet. And before you react, note that markets in South America and elsewhere do use VW's as taxis unlike the PH where Ayala positioned the brand as a glorified budget Audi.
There are so many Boeing fanboys here, hoping for PAL to order new Boeing aircraft like 787 and 777X. PAL is imposible to order new Boeing aircraft, given that Airbus provide PAL with the best products at a great price that can be delivered at the right time. 787 is already crossout by PAL as they chose to order Airbus A350 because of the capacity, range and the availability.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion is PAL will not order A330neo yet as their A333 is still relatively new and just finished refurbished their first 8 A333. If PAL is going to order long range aircraft, the best possible will be the A350-1000 (A35K), as they perform better economics than their flagship fleet of Boeing 77W. Also, Airbus said the economics of the A35K, after testing, is at par with the 777X. Now Boeing will be nervous with the A350 and will push the 777X into the limits of its design, like their jurassic 737.
If PAL orders the A330neo it most likely will be used to open up new long haul routes, not replace the existing A333s which will be used for regional and medium-haul destinations.
DeleteBoeing fanboy? Didn't I say that the A350 is doing well as the A340 replacement?
DeleteAlso admin, please post the new pics of PAL's A350 out of the paintshop. It looks beautiful.
Take note that PAL still has 6 unexercised options in that A350 purchase deal. The question is: more 359s or are we seeing -1000s?
DeleteI think a lot of readers here miss the point. This is a new variant of A330 NEO with the higher MTOW, it can reach US west coast and this plane is suggested for thin routes, where it's harder to fill a A350/B77W.
ReplyDeleteBut I think this is more viable solution for CEB to have commonality for its existing fleet.
If the A330NEO picks up steam, I can see CEB (not PAL) consider it. Though last I heard CEB was considering the 787 and A350 though. Also I wouldn't really bet on CEB launching West Coast in the short-term since CEB's long-haul ops other than Dubai and Australia were struggling (hence the ME pull-out).
DeleteThe problem with CEB is they are forcing alot of people into their plane to lower seat cost per fight which makes it a flying tin-can sardines. This is viable with flight less than 4 hours that's why their current setup for their A330's now wouldn't work for that matter. People will try to find extra leg room for these long-leg flights (>4 hour). If they we're bullish about this concept, then PAL would have continue using their all-economy A330 but instead they reconfigured it and also CEB is axing flights in ME reassigning them to regional and high-density domestic routes. They should also consider that their market wouldn't be only for cost-conscious Filipinos but other nationalities also.
DeleteThe issue why they wouldn't get a new type is because of extra cost for accumulating a new type into their current fleet. If they plan to grow their widebody fleet, the viable and highest probability is to concentrate with their current A330 family or dump it all the way in exchange with B787.
The more important question to this A330 ultra long haul variant's market viability is if there is an airline or a group of airlines with a significant enough order volumes to sustain production. Just look at the A380, if not for EK, they would have axed the production of the A380 a long time ago already.
Delete