How Many A330s Does Airbus Still Produce Annually?

The Airbus A330 has been a backbone of mid- and long-haul commercial flying for over 30 years. Thanks to its versatility and reliable operational performance, the widebody aircraft has proven popular with airlines across the world, from ultra-low-cost carriers such as Cebu Pacific to premium legacy carriers like Korean Air and Cathay Pacific.

In this article, we will take a look at how many Airbus A330s are currently being produced each month and how this compares with Airbus’ other aircraft families. We will also consider the role of the A330 in the wider aviation industry.

How Many A330s Does Airbus Produce Per Month?

The Airbus A330 first took to the skies in 1994 and has gone on to become a commercial success for the European manufacturer, although it later began to lose out to new arrivals such as the Boeing 787. However, the introduction of the A330neo in 2018 gave the aircraft a new lease of life, with these more modern, fuel-efficient variants proving popular among airlines and passengers alike.

Today, Airbus is still producing an average of four A330s per month, equating to 48 per year. This figure is set to increase to five per month (or 60 per year) in 2029, as the manufacturer works to clear its backlog of orders. Airbus currently has a backlog of almost 300 A330s on order, awaiting production and delivery. The vast majority of these are A330-900s, with a small number of A330-800s and A330-200s too.

How Does This Production Rate Compare To Airbus’ Other Aircraft?

A production rate of four per month places the A330 as Airbus’ least-produced aircraft, significantly behind other aircraft families, including the A220, A320, and A350. The manufacturer is currently completing a total of 14 A220s and 12 A350s per month.

However, the Airbus aircraft family with by far the highest production rate is the A320, with Airbus currently producing 75 per month. This high production rate has been driven by the worldwide popularity of the A320neo, which has become the manufacturer’s flagship narrowbody aircraft in terms of performance and versatility.

Undoubtedly, Airbus would like the A320neo production rate to be even higher, but the European manufacturer has been battling supply chain issues with the CFM International and Pratt & Whitney engines. However, despite the first-half results showing that it was slightly behind schedule with deliveries so far in 2025, Airbus is still maintaining a full-year delivery target of 820 aircraft in total.

Airbus’ Current Financial Performance

Airbus’ aircraft production rate is directly linked to its overall financial performance – after all, an aircraft manufacturer needs to build aircraft in order to generate revenue. In H1 2025, the European manufacturer reported a 3% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year, taking in more than €29.6 billion ($34.7 billion).

In a press release at the time of the results’ publication in July 2025, Airbus’ CEO, Guillaume Faury, said,

“The commercial performance in the first half of 2025 has been strong across the Company. Our H1 financials reflect transformation progress in our Defence and Space division and the lower commercial aircraft deliveries compared to a year ago. We are producing aircraft in line with our plans but deliveries are backloaded as we face persistent engine supply issues on the A320 programme. The operating environment is complex and fast-changing. On tariffs, the recent political agreement between the EU and the US to revert to a zero-tariff approach for civil aircraft is a welcome development for our industry. Our 2025 guidance, which continues to exclude the impact of tariffs, remains unchanged.”

About The Airbus A330

In the 1980s, the Boeing 767 was dominating the market for a medium-sized, long-range aircraft, bridging the gap between the 757 and the 747. Keen to get a slice of the pie, Airbus developed an aircraft to compete with the popular 767 – the Airbus A330.

The Airbus A330 entered commercial service in 1994 with Air Inter. The A330-300 was the first variant to be delivered, with the smaller A330-200 taking to the skies for its first commercial service with Canada 3000 some four years later in 1998. Since then, more than 1,600 A330s have been built and delivered by Airbus, making the aircraft one of the most popular widebodies in aviation history.

The Airbus A330neo was announced in 2014 and entered commercial service in December 2018 with TAP Air Portugal. This more modern aircraft leverages the latest technology, including the Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 turbofan engine and unique sharklets, to increase in fuel efficiency by 14% compared to older models. As a result, the A330neo helps airlines save money on fuel consumption and also contributes to wider sustainability goals across the industry.

The World’s Largest Operators Of The Airbus A330

The latest data from ch-aviation shows that Delta Air Lines is currently the world’s largest commercial operator of the Airbus A330, with a total of 75 in its fleet, made up of 11 A330-200s, 31 A330-300s, and 33 A330-900s. The largest operators of the A330’s passenger variants are outlined in the table below:

Ranking	Airline	Airbus A330-200	Airbus A330-300	Airbus A330-800	Airbus A330-900	Total
1	Delta Air Lines	11	31	–	33	75
2	China Eastern Airlines	30	25	–	–	55
3	Turkish Airlines	14	36	–	–	50
4	Air China	15	28	–	–	43
5	Cathay Pacific	–	42	–	–	42
6	China Southern Airlines	14	27	–	–	41
7	Saudia	–	33	–	–	33
8	Korean Air	8	22	–	–	30
9	Qantas	18	10	–	–	28
10	Hainan Airlines	7	20	–	–	27

When it comes specifically to the two newest variants of the Airbus A330 – the A330-800 and A330-900, the largest operators are Delta Air Lines (33), TAP Air Portugal (19), Condor (18), Cebu Pacific (12), and ITA Airways (11). As an ultra-low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific has its A330-900s equipped with an all-economy class layout, seating up to an eye-watering maximum of 459 passengers. The airline often deploys the aircraft from its hub at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) on routes to popular destinations such as Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Sydney Airport (SYD).

Delta Air Lines has built a strong and lasting relationship with the Airbus A330, making the aircraft a key part of its widebody fleet strategy and deploying it on a range of international and transcontinental routes. The SkyTeam carrier currently operates three variants of the A330, each with a slightly different configuration, as outlined in the table below:

Aircraft	Business Class	Premium Economy	Economy Class	Total
Airbus A330-200	34	21	168	223
Airbus A330-300	34	21	227	282
Airbus A330-900	29	28	224	281

Data from Flightradar24 shows that Delta Air Lines deploys its fleet of Airbus A330s on a wide variety of routes from several hubs across the US. Examples of routes flown over the past seven days with the A330 include Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN), Minneapolis/St Paul International Airport (MSP) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).

Standing The Test Of Time

Korean Air Airbus A330-300 touching down on runway in Prague International Airport.

The Airbus A330 has proven popular over the years primarily thanks to its versatility, cost-effectiveness, and reliability. It fits well in the mid- to long-haul market, offering a balance between range and passenger capacity, and typically seats between 250 and 300 passengers, making it suitable for a variety of airline business models. The aircraft also has significant cargo capacity, which adds to its commercial appeal, especially on routes with strong cargo demand.

When the Airbus A330 was introduced, it offered excellent fuel efficiency compared to older aircraft like the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and the Boeing 747. This efficiency advantage waned over time, as more modern aircraft such as the Boeing 787 began to dominate the market, but Airbus responded with the A330neo, proving that the aircraft still has a place in the modern-day commercial aviation market.

Although the Airbus A330 has been a commercial success for the European manufacturer, with significant outstanding orders still to deliver, it remains to be seen what the impact of future widebodies such as the upcoming Boeing 777X will have on the long-term future of the aircraft. The 777X was originally due to enter commercial service in 2020, although this has been pushed back several times and is now set for 2026. When it is eventually delivered, Emirates will be the largest operator of the 777X, with a staggering 205 on order – 35 777-8s and 170 777-9s, followed by Qatar Airways.

In summary, Airbus’ current monthly production rates for each of its aircraft families are outlined in the table below: