newstodate.aero

Jan 20, 2020 (newstodate): Inking an MoU with Airbus for delivery of an Airbus A330-800neo, Air Greenland brings a rare bird into the air.
   The Airbus A330-800neo is the successor to the A330-200, but so far only 15 aircraft of this type has been ordered, and rumours were that Airbus might consider closing down production of this aircraft as customer go for the larger Airbus A330-900neo aircraft instead.
   Besides one for Air Greenland, Kuwait Airways has ordered eight, Uganda Airlines two A330-800neo, and four have been ordered by an unidentified customer.
   Air Greenland may thus have incidentally saved the A330-800neo program - for the time being, at least, while the carrier has benefited from its decision through a favourable pricing.
   Also, the runways of the coming new airports in Greenland are better suited to operating the Airbus A330-800neo, compared to the larger -900neo that will require longer runways or face penalties on the loads.
   The Airbus A330-800 has the capacity of lifting up to 257 passengers over a range of 15,090 km compared to 250 passengers on the A330-200 flying up to 13,450 km.
   The coming new aircraft will primarily be operating the route between Denmark and the new airports at Nuuk and Ilulissat as well as opening potentials for new routes between Greenland and North America.
   The Airbus A330-8000neo for Air Greenland is slated for delivery by Q4, 2021, in time for the commissioning of the two new Transatlantic airports replacing the current Transatlantic gateway at Kangerlussuaq by 2023