Airbus boosts A330 range and MOTW for 2015 target

The MTOW will rise to 242 tonnes and will extend the range of the type by 500nm (930km) over the existing 235t model, and by 350nm for the 238t A330-200 at full passenger load.

Operators of the -300 have the option of activating the centre wing fuel tank which is currently a feature of the long-range dash 200 model. Utilising the centre wing tank will increase the fuel capacity from 97,500 litres to more than 139,000 litres which Airbus said will extend the A330-300's range to 6,100nm by 2015, enabling it to perform westbound flights from south-east Asia to Europe.

According to flightglobal, the airframer is aiming to achieve the enhancements by refining the A330's aerodynamics - shortening flap-track fairings and reshaping inner slats - and capitalising on the aircraft's load-alleviation function. The aircraft will also undergo partial wing and fuselage reinforcement.

Airbus expects to reduce the -300's fuel burn by 2%, half of which will derive from the aerodynamic tweaks and the rest from higher engine efficiency.