Airbus is to increase production of the A330 Family from six aircraft to seven per month from January 2017.

The manufacturer says the increase will be approved mid-2016 when component production reaches the required level.

Head of A330 Family Programme, Eric Zanin says: “The A330 has enjoyed additional commercial success in China, Saudi Arabia and South Africa among other countries. Add to that healthy demand for the MRTT [multi-role tanker transport] military derivative and you have an order book that can easily absorb an increase of one aircraft per month.”

The A330 Family consists of the A330-200 and A330-300, the A330-200 Freighter, ACJ330 corporate jet and A330 MRTT. It is also developing the A330 New Engine Option (neo) versions, the A330-800neo and A330-900neo. Airbus will start delivering neos from the fourth quarter of 2017, and it will increase range by 400 nautical miles.