Airbus A330-200: Aerolíneas Argentinas Indispensable Workhorse

The A330-200 is a long-range, widebody twinjet designed and produced by Airbus, beginning in November 1995. It is based on the original A330-300 and shares near identical systems, airframe, wings and flight deck, but with a shorter fuselage length and a larger, center fuel tank, providing a longer 11,850km (6400nm) range. Designed to compete with the B767-300ER, its design was based on the body of the unsuccessful A340-200 and wings and engines of the A330-300, resulting in an efficient and reliable aircraft. Keep reading to learn more about the A330-200 and one in particular - LV-FNI, the newest PlaneTags by MotoArt.

Airbus A330-200: A History

LV-FNI flickr photo by airlines470 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license 

The A330, and its sister aircraft the A340, were developed concurrently by Airbus Industrie beginning in the 1970s, as Airbus looked for a successor to the A300. These new designs were to replace the B707 and DC-8, and would go against the DC-10 and L1011. Initially designed as A300B9 and A300B11, later TA9 and TA11 (referring to Twin Aisle) they shared the same airframe, had fly-by-wire controls, and a glass cockpit.

By January 1986, TA9 was officially designated the A330 and TA11 the A340. In March 1987, the first orders for the A330 were received and by June 1987, the A330 was formally launched with 130 aircraft ordered by 10 customers. The first complete A330 rolled out in October 1992 and took its first flight in November 1992, becoming the largest twinjet aircraft to have ever flown (later beaten by the B777). 

Airbus A330 final assembly line in Toulouse, France. Photo by José Goulão

The development of the longer range A330-200 was approved in November 1995, with the aim to compete with the B767-300ER. With 277 passengers, the A330-300 has a range of 11,750 km (6,350 nmi), but the A330-200, which is smaller, has a range of 247 passengers of 13,450 km (7,250 nmi).

In July 2014, Airbus introduced a newly re-engineered A330neo (new engine option), made up of the A330-800/900s, which boasts a 14% greater fuel economy/seat. Earlier A330s (200, 200F, 300) are referred to as A330ceo (current engine option). 

Watch this video about the A330 family.

About Airbus

Airbus is the largest aeronautics and space company in Europe, and a worldwide leader in designing, manufacturing and delivering commercial aircraft, military aircraft, helicopters, and aerospace products and services. The company was formally established in December 1970 as a consortium of European aviation manufacturers to compete with American manufacturers, such as Boeing, Lockheed, and McDonnell Douglas. 

Airbus A330-200 Specs

Characteristics:

• Manufacturer: Airbus
• Tail #: Lv-Fni
• Crew: 11 (3 Pilots, 8 Flight Attendants)
• Seats: 22 Business, 243 Economy
• Wing Span: 210 Ft 0 In
• Length: 192 Ft 11 In
• Height:  57 Ft 1 In

Performance:

• Range: 7,250 Nm
• Cruise Speed: 470 Kts
• Ceiling: 41,100 Ft
• Empty Weight: 374,786 Lbs
• Max Takeoff Weight: 553,519 Lbs
• Rate Of Climb: 2,200 Ft / Minute
• Engine: Pratt & Whitney Pw4168a Turbofans

Our plane: S/n 290 

Aerolineas Argentinas, LV-FNI, Airbus A330-223 flickr photo by Anna Zvereva shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license 

MotoArt’s Airbus was manufactured as a type 330-223 and took its maiden flight on July 19, 1999 under the test registration F-WWKQ.    

OO-SFQ

Under the registration OO-SFQ, this plane flew for Sabena between August 1999 and February 2002. It also flew for a very short time with VG Airlines before leaving them in October 2002.

9M-MKX

Between February 2003 and December 2012, the plane was registered as 9M-MKX and flew for Malaysia Airlines. Here it is, in Bali on August 24, 2012.

LV-FNI

Between September 2013 and June 2021, it was registered as LV-FNI and spent its remaining service years with Aerolíneas Argentinas. It was primarily flown on medium to long-haul routes and featured a two class configuration with 24 angled flat Club Condor seats and 248 standard Economy Class seats.

Photos by Joe Heeney, used with permission. 

 Here is a video of LV-FNI, Aerolíneas Argentinas' first A330-200 on its ferry flight.

Aerolíneas Argentinas

Aerolíneas Argentinas, a member of the SkyTeam global alliance, was founded in 1950 and is one of the leading airlines in South America. It is Argentina’s flag carrier and operates flights to 38 destinations within Argentina, and flies to 22 international destinations in 13 countries throughout America and Europe. In 2020, the airline was merged with the other state carrier, Austral, and unveiled a new livery design. On December 7, 2020, the airline celebrated its 70th anniversary.

The airline began with a fleet of  6 Douglas DC-6, 6 Douglas DC-4, 22 Douglas DC-3, 5 Convair 240 and 6 Short S.25 Sandringham aircraft. They are currently carrying out a fleet renewal, but retain several A330-200s in their widebody fleet.

You can see a couple of the oldest A330-200s in the fleet in this video.  

MotoArt Finds An A330-200 

A trip to Roswell’s boneyard brought the Aerolíneas Argentinas A330-200 to MotoArt owner Dave Hall’s attention. It was hard to miss it, clad in bright sky blue colors under the desert sun. “It was a no-brainer to add this beautiful A330-200 as PlaneTags,” says Hall. Take a closer look at these photos from Dave and the team's collections.

Airbus A330-200 PlaneTags

The newest commercial PlaneTags are made with the original skin from LV-FNI. They are numbered in a series of 5,000. The lovely colors of Aerolíneas Argentinas’ sky blue livery are not to be missed. The color variants available initially will be:

• Pearl
• Azul/Pearl
• Azul/Blanco
• Blanco/Pearl
• Negro/Blanco
• Blanco

They will be available on this website and the PlaneTags app beginning August 4, 2022. 

Airbus PlaneTags

Here are some of the colorful Airbus PlaneTags that have been released over the years. These are always collector favorites. Note: some have been marked as Sold Out, a reminder to get one when you see one you love because chances are it will sell out.

Airbus A320 PlaneTags - Made from N627AW, which was one of the airframes used in the filming of “Sully”. Currently sold out**

Air Transat® Airbus A310 PlaneTags - Made from C-GSAT and sure to leave the shelves sooner than later.

Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321-200 PlaneTags - Made from VN-A347, and currently still available in many gorgeous colors like gold/cream and teal/cream. Don’t let these pass you by.

Varga Girl A340 PlaneTag - Made from V-GVAS and named for Alberto Vargas, the Peruvian artist who inspired the flying lady logo for Virgin.

China Airlines A340-300 PlaneTag - Made from B-18801

G-VEIL, the “Queen of the Skies" PlaneTags - This Virgin Atlantic A340 was named by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II herself.

Super Guppy Turbine PlaneTags - are made from #F-BTGV. Learn more about this amazing aircraft here.