Cathay Group, the parent company of Cathay Pacific, and Airbus have announced orders for thirty Airbus A330neo aircraft. According to the press release, the newly ordered aircraft will allow Cathay Pacific to refresh its existing Airbus A330-300 fleet used on high capacity regional routes. The new planes will also allow them the flexibility to serve longer range destinations thanks to the A330neo’s Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines.
As part of the announcement, Ronald Lam, Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer said:
“The A330 is an aircraft type that has been serving Cathay Pacific well for nearly 30 years. These new aircraft will principally serve our regional destinations in Asia, while also providing the flexibility to serve longer-haul destinations as required. The improved fuel efficiency of these A330neos, together with their high standards of comfort, will enable us to further elevate the experience we provide for our customers while also contributing towards our goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
Ronald Lam, Cathay Group CEO
Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Aircraft said:
“This latest order from Cathay, one of the world’s most experienced A330 operators, is a major endorsement of the latest generation A330neo. It is the natural successor for existing A330 fleets, bringing the highest levels of technical and operational commonality, and significant reductions in fuel consumption and carbon emissions.”
Christian Scherer, Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO
The A330-900neo will compliment Cathay Pacific’s existing fleet of Airbus aircraft which includes the A320 family and flagship A350. With all of the uncertainty surrounding aviation in Hong Kong during and after the pandemic, it is great to see the airline place such a large order to refresh its regional fleet. No delivery timeline was provided as a part of the announcement.
Summary
Cathay Group, the parent company of Cathay Pacific has placed orders for thirty Airbus A330neo aircraft. The airline is expected to use the new A330-900neos as the backbone of its regional widebody operations, with the versatility to operate on longer routes.
(Image courtesy Airbus)
