Originally Posted by
cynicalaviator
What's puzzling to me is that Airbus was forced to build the 330-Neo because customers wanted a cheaper version than the 350-800. Yet, nobody is buying it. The ironic part is that the first A350 design would have actually been very similar to the 330-Neo. Until this was also trashed because of customer requests.
Cyn - I may be wrong - but I think there were only 8 orders for the A350-800, most from TAP. When the 330NEO was announced, it's capability was initially slightly less, but during development, it got a gr wt increase that made it's capability about the same as the 350-800. TAP switched their order. Delta is ordering 25 330Neos (and cut/deferred 350 orders by 10). It is a perfect 767-300ER replacement for east coast/Europe and west coast/Asia routes. The 350s are needed for east coast/Asia and west coast/Europe as I understand.
The 330 has been far more successful than its Boeing competitor the 767-400 - about 2000 sales to 41 sales...
Standing by for "incoming"!