Airbus has sucessfully completed the first flight of it’s A330-800 aircraft. The aircraft MSN1888 took off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport at around 10.30AM and landed after about four hours.
The A330-800 is the smaller version of the re-engined A330neo series. The A330neo program was announced in 2014 and the first aircraft of the series – the A330-900 had it’s first flight last year. The first A330neo is expected to be delivered to TAP Portugal by December.
![The first flight of the Airbus A330-800neo.](https://www.bangaloreaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/A330-800-first-flight-air-to-air-1--620x432.jpg)
The completion of this first flight will kick off the test program for the A330-800 which will comprise of around 300 hours of flight testing, with certification of the aircraft planned for 2019.
![Landing of A330-800 after the succesful completion of it's maiden flight.](https://www.bangaloreaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/A330-800-first-flight-landing--620x432.jpg)
Guillaume Faury, President, Airbus Commercial Aircraft
“Today’s first flight of the A330-800 is the latest addition to our efficient Widebody family, The A330-800 is an exceptionally versatile ‘route-opener’, offering unbeatable economics for airlines – encompassing everything from short to very-long haul widebody missions. We look forward to the successful flight-test campaign, leading to certification next year.”