TAP Portugal Launch Operator For Airbus A330neo

April 6, 2016

TAP Portugal will be the first airline to fly the Airbus A330neo, the latest version of the plane maker's current generation of wide-body jets.

The aircraft, an updated and more fuel-efficient version of the A330 with Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, is due to enter service in late 2017.

TAP ordered 14 of the jets as part of a wider fleet update last year.

The Portuguese airline will also be the first to have a new cabin layout called "Airspace," being showcased at an industry event in Hamburg this week. The design allows airlines to add more seats, Airbus said last month.

Airbus launched the 250-300 seat A330neo in 2014 partly to plug a gap left by disappointing sales of the smallest version of its newer A350 series.

(Reuters)