A330 had its EIS 15 years ago, first ever A330 is with SN

[tolipanebas]

On December 30th, Airbus marked the 15th anniversary of its first A330 delivery, which opened a highly successful career for the twin-engine family of medium/long-range widebody jetliners that will continue to serve operators for years to come.

The no. 1 aircraft - an A330-300 version - was handed over to Air Inter, which operated it on the airline's high-capacity domestic route network within France. This aircraft subsequently joined the fleet of Brussels Airlines - which continues to use the milestone jetliner on regular service to numerous African destinations, accumulating a total of more than 50,000 flight hours.

There are some 250 A30-300s in service today, with more than 130 firmly-ordered aircraft still to be delivered.

From its original Air Inter routes with an average sector length of no more than 400 nautical miles, the A330-300 has spread its wings around the world, and now serves such long-haul routes as Frankfurt, Germany to Seattle, Washington on the U.S. West Coast - a still-air distance of over 4,400 nautical miles.

A growing proportion of the A330-300 fleet is now employed on extended-distance regional routes, such as those linking Middle East destinations with European capital cities. Similar flight lengths characterise the segments flown between Australia and Asia or from Europe to North America.

A330-300s convey large numbers of leisure travellers to the winter snow and summer sun every year. With the start of deliveries to Air Asia X in October 2008, the A330-300 is now providing low-cost services from Malaysia to China, Australia and other Asian destinations.

The A330-300 also is firmly established as the 300-seat aircraft of choice for operators in China (including Hong Kong), with almost 80 aircraft in service or on order.

Operators who will receive their first A330-300s beginning in 2009 are Etihad, Gulf Air, Oman Air and Saudi Arabian Airlines - as well as Aeroflot, Finnair and Swiss. The first of the new operators will be Singapore Airlines, with deliveries commencing in January.

Overall, more than 1,000 A330s have been ordered in the aircraft's various versions, including the new A330-200F freighter, which was launched by Airbus in January 2007. The A330's versatility also is demonstrated by its evolution as an aerial tanker for the in-flight refuelling of military aircraft and the airlift of troops and cargo.

http://www.airbus.com/en/myairbus/headl ... /index.jsp

Albeit not the type of press release from Airbus I'd like to see Brussels Airlines mentioned in, I thought it is worth mentioning overhere.I knew SN had some of the earliest built A330s, but I didn't know they had the very first one! I wonder why SN didn't put a (small) spotlight on this event, although I think they probably feel there's no reason in being proud of flying the olderst A330 in the world!

[LX-LGX]

Albeit not the type of press release from Airbus I'd like to see Brussels Airlines mentioned in, I thought it is worth mentioning overhere.I knew SN had some of the earliest built A330s, but I didn't know they had the very first one! I wonder why SN didn't put a (small) spotlight on this event, although I think they probably feel there's no reason in being proud of flying the olderst A330 in the world!

Many passengers would feel unhappy - if not unsafe - if they would know the age of their aircraft. They regard the age of an aircraft like the age of that other way of transport they're familiar with: cars. Maximum age to be reliable is 4 to 5 years, maximum mileage 100.000 kms. For planes, they double it. No further thinking is done. Only frequent flyers understand how important maintenance is.

Brussels Airlines making publicity with a plane from 15 years old would therefore be not a good idea, and they know it. Age of aircraft is something airlines generally do not publish - unless they fly new ones, like Ryanair nowadays (but not when they were using 732's). Remember the first critics when that ex-Varig 767 from a Belgian touroperator had problems? It had only 13 years of service, but in posts on newssites and letters to the editor, the plane was bad because it was old.

[Atlantis]

That's the difference with the automotive industry: a car of 15 year old is a wreck.
Planes are like wine, they become better when they are older. A well maintained aircraft of 10 -13 year is as good as a 4 - 5 year old one.

[Conti764]

That's the difference with the automotive industry: a car of 15 year old is a wreck.
Planes are like wine, they become better when they are older. A well maintained aircraft of 10 -13 year is as good as a 4 - 5 year old one.

It wouldn't be a wreck if it was maintained just as good as the average airliner. That's the case for every object.

On topic: a little strange to see the latest widebody at SN service is actually the oldest 333 around. Something to think of when people refer to 'Whiskey' as SN's 'newest'

[sab319]

OO-SFM is actually the oldest A330-300 in SN's fleet (first flight on 22/06/1993, delivered to Air Inter on 18/03/1994), SFW is indeed the newest (first flight on 24/11/1994 and delivered to LTU 12/12/1994)

http://www.planesregister.com/airline/B ... g-a330.htm

[Conti764]

OO-SFM is actually the oldest A330-300 in SN's fleet (first flight on 22/06/1993, delivered to Air Inter on 18/03/1994), SFW is indeed the newest (first flight on 24/11/1994 and delivered to LTU 12/12/1994)

http://www.planesregister.com/airline/B ... g-a330.htm

Mea Culpa I thought OO-SFW got flew for Air Inter, before going to Air Madrid...

[epsilon]

To make it a bit more complicated, in the article Airbus is referring to OO-SFN?

[LX-LGX]

To make it a bit more complicated, in the article Airbus is referring to OO-SFN?

indeed: F-GMDB, the first A330 that was delivered to Air Inter on 30/12/1993, was not the first A330 to fly.

MSN 37:
F-WWKE = test registration, first flight 20/10/1993
F-GMDB = Air Inter reg, delivery date 30/12/1993
OO-SFN = Sabena reg, delivery date 30/07/1997

MSN 30:
F-WWKD = test registration, first flight 22/06/1993
F-GMDA = Air Inter reg, delivery date 18/03/1994
OO-SFM = Sabena reg, delivery date 02/07/1997

- - -

MSN 37 = OO-SFN:
http://airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a330-37.htm

MSN 30 = OO-SFM:
http://airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a330-30.htm

[epsilon]

Thanks for the clarification LX-LGX !

[CX]

Yes i remember CX had their in-flight magazine printing out their average fleet age, last time i read it a few years back was 9.X years. Now of course they don't have in flight magazines, and i dont' seem to find 'average fleet age' on their entertainment system (which replaced the magazine).

[sdbelgium]

Yes i remember CX had their in-flight magazine printing out their average fleet age, last time i read it a few years back was 9.X years. Now of course they don't have in flight magazines, and i dont' seem to find 'average fleet age' on their entertainment system (which replaced the magazine).

Their current average fleet age is 11.1 years, with the Boeing 747s being the oldest with 15.8 years of age, followed by the A340s (11.6 years). The A330s have 8 years of age and the 777s are the youngest of the fleet, being only 6.5 years old on average.

[Andries]

Does anyone know why B-HLJ (MSN 12) and B-HLK (MSN 17) were delivered to Cathay only in 1997 ? Looking at their MSN, it would suggest they are older than OO-SFM and are the oldest A330's. However, they are much younger and started flying 4 years after SFM. Can anyone explain this ? Delayed delivery perhaps ?

Greetz,

Andries

[Andries]

Does anyone know why B-HLJ (MSN 12) and B-HLK (MSN 17) were delivered to Cathay only in 1997 ? Looking at their MSN, it would suggest they are older than OO-SFM and are the oldest A330's. However, they are much younger and started flying 4 years after SFM. Can anyone explain this ? Delayed delivery perhaps ?

Greetz,

Andries

OK, found it allready. Actually, there are some misunderstandings going around here :

1) Brussels Airlines doesn't operate the OLDEST A333. It operates the A330 that made the first commercial flight, which means the A333 with the longest commercial carreer, which is OO-SFN (MSN 37)

2) Cathay Pacific operates the OLDEST A333, which is B-HLJ (MSN 12). This aircraft was the first prototype of the A330 and was joined in the programme by MSN 17 (later to become B-HLK). These 2 prototypes were delivered to Cathay Pacific after the testprogramme for the A330 was finished, in 1996.

Serial number: 12
Type: 330-301
First flight date: 02/11/1992
Status: Active
Test registration: F-WWKA
02/11/1992, Airbus Industrie, D-AIBC, 330 Prototype
02/11/1992, Airbus Industrie, D-AIBC, Trent Prototype Converted 330-341
18/10/1996, Cathay Pacific, VR-HLJ, Convertes 330-342
26/10/1997, Cathay Pacific, B-HLJ

Serial number: 17
Type: 330-301
First flight date: 03/12/1992
Status: Active
Test registration: F-WWKB
03/12/1992, Airbus Industrie, F-WWKB, 330 Prototype #2
24/01/1997, Cathay Pacific, VR-HLK
28/10/1997, Cathay Pacific, B-HLK

Serial number: 30
Type: 330-301
First flight date: 22/06/1993
Status: Active
Test registration: F-WWKD
18/03/1994, Air Inter, F-GMDA
02/07/1997, Sabena, OO-SFM, ceased ops BRU 07/11/01 frd to Chateauroux 18/01/02
06/06/2002, Birdy Airlines (SN Brussels), OO-SFM, lsd Debis AirFinance
01/10/2004, SN Brussels Airlines, OO-SFM
25/03/2007, Brussels Airlines, OO-SFM

Serial number: 37
Type: 330-301
First flight date: 20/10/1993
Status: Avtive
Test registration: F-WWKE
30/12/1993, Air Inter, F-GMDB
30/07/1997, Sabena, OO-SFN, ceased ops BRU 07/11/01 frd to Chateauroux 18/01/02
19/04/2002, Birdy Airlines (SN Brussels), OO-SFN, Operating flights for SN
01/10/2004, SN Brussels Airlines, OO-SFN
25/03/2007, Brussels Airlines, OO-SFN

So what Airbus meant most likely in their article is that Brussels Airlines operates the first A330 that flew a commercial flight. It's not the oldest A330 ever ! Hope this clears up things for you guys as well.
SO actually, this topic's title should be : "A330 had its EIS 15 years ago, first A330 to fly commercially is with SN"

It can also be noted that the first 3 A330's to ever fly commercially, are all 3 flying with Brussels Airlines as OO-SFM, OO-SFN and OO-SFO. These are the leading A330's in the world as they have the longest history of active duty !

Greetz,

Andries