Iberia launches new Airbus A330 variant

Iberia has become the first airline to take delivery of the Airbus A330-200 with an increased maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 242 tonnes.

The 11,500km-range aircraft is particularly suitable for Iberia’s longest routes, such as those to Buenos Aires and Montevideo.

In May 2015 US major Delta was the launch carrier for the 242-tonne MTOW version of the larger A330-300.

Iberia plans to take 13 examples of the new A330-200 into its fleet over the next three years. The aircraft will have a two-class configuration, featuring 19 business- and 269 economy-class seats.

The aircraft will feature new ‘Business Plus’ seats giving direct aisle access and unfolding into two-meter-long lie-flat beds. Seats in the economy class cabin are more ergonomic and roomier than their predecessors, Iberia said.

The fleet will also be equipped with a faster Wi-Fi system, allowing passengers to go online, while a special portal will allow them to connect to the internet with their own phones, tablets, or laptops. The portal has its own news channel and also supplies information about the flight, as well as Iberia.

Iberia’s pending order list also includes 16 A350-900s.