The A.330-900 is a bit of a oddity in a way
Airbus proposed an upgraded A.330 and called it the A.350. The airlines got together and refused to oreder it demanding and clean sheet design and not something that still use the basic, modified A.300 fuse. Some high ranking officials at Airbus lost their jobs because they were deemed so out of touch and so the the aircraft desiners opened up a new, blank doc (CTRL N)
and now we have the A.350.
Now it seems they have developed the A.330 anyway...perhaps not to the same extent as the original 350 but none the less they continue the product, which was said to be throwing good money away when the market wanted all new.
No doubt it's a cheaper alternate and perhaps a comfort for those A.330 operators too nervous to make a big change/
My hope is that it does not compete with the 350. Boeing had this when, to a certain extent, the 757-200 competed with the 767-200.
The 900 though must surely be the last gasp for the 330 which will continue to sell probably like the A.300 with pax model orders fading out in the next few years and Freight production continuing for some time afterwards.
The 300 is, though at present an extremely good product, but the new stuff is even better, so it's days are numbered, even if the number is still good for a few years.
Worth remebering at this point of the time that teh A.300, the only Airbus product at the time was dead in the water...good but not selling. Then, a US airline, Eatern bought it because it was the best machine for their needs...the World took not of that US acceptance, and the project was kickstarted. Airlines took note and a major order from a major US carrier gave it credability.
A US order for Airbus is always a good thing. Things go the other way of course with Monarch going back to Boeing 737 chossing the MAX over the A.320NEO. Having orders for both manufacturers in the other's camp is always a healthy sign that competition is working and there is a free choice.
Good for Airbus..they have to work hard for such orders.
