TAP's first Airbus A330-900neo landed this afternoon (19/06) in Lisbon, to begin its mission to simulate commercial routes with the aim of obtaining a standard of aircraft performance under these conditions.
In Lisbon, a team of pilots and flight attendants from TAP welcomed the aircraft and got to know the new technologies of the A330neo, including inside.
The flight crew reported that the aircraft took off with 20 tons of fuel from Toulouse, and with a total weight of 164 tons. In this journey of 1h30, the aircraft spent only 8 tons.
The aircraft was carrying TAP on board, who took the opportunity to see the plane in flight. In addition, Airbus directors boarded the A330neo to welcome the TAP team in Lisbon. The aircraft is equipped with 298 seats, divided into three classes (Business, Economy and Economy).
The test A330neo flying these routes is fully equipped with Airbus' new Airspace interior and is in the colors of TAP Air Portugal. Interestingly, it is the same plane that will be delivered to the airline this year, and will inaugurate the A330neo on commercial flights.
In total, Airbus will test the aircraft at 16 airports on five continents, completing a total of 150 flight hours in 18 days and completing more than 1000 hours of A330neo testing.
After Lisbon, the A330neo will follow with a team of pilots and engineers to Miami, and soon after it will visit cities in Brazil, such as Recife, São Paulo and Miami. Check the dates Clicking here.
After making flights between Europe and the American continent, the A330neo will follow routes in Asia, with stops in Kuala Lumpur and Delhi, for example. After this “leg” in Asia, the aircraft returns to Toulouse via Mauritius and continues to the United States again.
Route preflight tests are part of the final tests required for the Type Certification of the aircraft, scheduled for the European summer of 2018.
TAP is optimistic about deliveries, according to the company's president there is a forecast for TAP to receive three A330neo aircraft by the end of 2018. TAP has ordered 14 A330-900 aircraft, out of a total of 215 orders that Airbus has received up to the timing for the A330neo.
Airbus will probably deliver three planes at the same time to the company, as soon as it receives type certification, estimated to occur between July and August.
In Brazil, Airbus also needs ANAC certification due to Azul, which will also operate with the A330neo from the fourth quarter of this year.
