Aircraft
Airbus A330neo En Route to Function and Reliability Tests
Route proving exercises to take the new widebody to 15 airports on five continents
A330neo launch customer TAP Air Portugal expects to take the first of ten -900 airliners on order this summer. (Photo: Airbus)
A330neo launch customer TAP Air Portugal expects to take the first of ten -900 airliners on order this summer. (Photo: Airbus)

An Airbus A330neo in the colors of launch customer TAP Air Portugal has embarked on a worldwide tour to demonstrate its readiness for airline operations, Airbus announced Monday. As a final step in the aircraft certification phase, function and reliability tests planned during the tour include ETOPS missions, landing at diversion airports, and testing airport handling services. Plans call for the A330neo to fly past Airbus’s European factories and head to 15 major airports in five continents. The company expects the airplane to accumulate 150 flight test hours during three trips.