THE AIRBUS A330NEO'S HISTORY has been full of twists and turns. For many years, the aircraft has been Airbus' answer to Boeing's launch of the 787. The requirement to make the aircraft more capable over the years in payload and range has led to a massive increase in both maximum takeoff weight and range-to the current maximum of 251 tons and a range of 8,150 nm for the A330-800 and 7,200 nm for the larger -900. In the process, Airbus has turned the original A330-200/-300, which was a medium-haul, high-capacity aircraft somewhat like the A300/310, into a true long-haul jet. But the latest performance changes, now approved by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), indicate a change in direction. EASA certified versions of the A330-800 and -900 that are much lower in weight than the in-service A330neo fleet. Maximum takeoff weight of the -800 and -900 so far varied between 230 and 251 tons, depending on the version the airlines wanted. Now additional versions of the -800 are offered as light as 200, 205,210,215 and 220 tons. Meanwhile, the -900 is available at 205, 210, 215 and 220 tons, besides the existing variants.
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