Airbus' new mid-size, long-haul A330-200F cargo aircraft completed a successful maiden flight from the company's Toulouse, France headquarters facility on 5 November 2009 - marking the start-up of a 180-hour flight test and certification campaign for the new-generation freighter. This efficient, reliable and profitable aircraft will offer customers greater range and a higher maximum payload with much lower unit costs compared to its closest competitor. First delivery of the A330-200F is expected during the summer of 2010 to launch operator Etihad Crystal Cargo.
Airbus’ 18 metre-long A350 XWB demonstrator fuselage helped validate the production process for this widebody jetliner’s composite airframe (10 August 2009)
The second large test composite fuselage section for Airbus’ next-generation A350 XWB jetliner has been completed at the Hamburg, Germany facility (10 August 2009)
A special ceremony in Toulouse, France marks the delivery of the 1,000th aircraft from Airbus' versatile A330/A340 Family - an A330-300 - to Thai Airways International (30 July 2009)
The 1,000th A330/A340 Family aircraft – an A330-300 – was delivered to Thai Airways International, expanding the carrier’s A330/A340 fleet to 25 (30 July 2009)
Shanghai Airlines has become a new operator of Airbus aircraft after receiving the first of 10 A321 single-aisle jetliners ordered by the Chinese carrier (17 July 2009)
China-based Juneyao Airlines – a privately-owned carrier that currently operates 10 leased Airbus aircraft – has taken delivery of its first purchased A320 (16 July 2009)
The initial Chinese-built A320 - the first Airbus aircraft produced outside Europe - was delivered to Dragon Aviation Leasing during a ceremony at the Tianjin final assembly line on 23 June 2009
A gala ceremony marks delivery of the first Chinese-built A320 to Dragon Aviation Leasing for operation by Sichuan Airlines - a milestone for Airbus' newest final assembly line (23 June 2009)
UK-based Virgin Atlantic Airways is renewing its fleet with a new firm contract for six efficient A330-300 long-range aircraft and a lease agreement for four more from AerCap (22 June 2009)
National carrier Turkish Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding for seven Airbus A330 widebody aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to begin in August 2010 (19 June 2009)
