Weight Variant

Boost your fleet strategy by optimising your payload range and by lowering airport and navigation fees when relevant.

A350-1000 receives cargo in Tianjin

What do you get?

Cash savings

Optimise your cost efficiency with a quick payback 

Adapt operations to fleet strategy

Select the weight variant adapted to your potential new routes. A full range of weight is available and easily selectable

Potential additional revenues

A Cabin densification or additional cargo may impact your payload range. Weight Variant could be necessary to support your project, increasing the Max Zero Fuel Weight.

Save on your airport and navigation charges

Did you know your airport and navigation charges may not be aligned with your current load factors?

All aircraft are delivered with Weight Variants that determine the payloads that a given aircraft can fly with.

A Weight Variant (WV) is defined by three design weights, which are computed based on aircraft strength and airworthiness requirements and that limit operational use of the aircraft:

- MTOW (Maximum Take-Off Weight) - the maximum weight at the start of the take-off
- MLW (Maximum Landing Weight) - the maximum weight for landing
- MZFW (Maximum Zero Fuel Weight) - the maximum weight before fuel is loaded

Our Weight Variant switching service can help you reduce cash out on airport and navigation charges.
 

aircraft weight: details for engine start & taxi out, trip fuel reserves, payload, operator's items, manufacturer's weight empty

Certified weight variants to operate in the most efficient way

The declared weights of an aircraft and its Weight Variant are key in determining the airport and navigation charges an airline will pay for a given route.

From an operational standpoint, higher design weights allow operators to increase the capabilities of the aircraft (payload and/or range).

However, ANSP (Air Navigation Services Providers) and airports charge fees to cover the use of their services, infrastructure and equipment on ground and all along the flight.

A350-1000 receives cargo in Tianjin

Switch weight variant and save on your airport and navigation charges

Airlines can easily change their aircraft’s weight variants to better match their current load factors and routes, and reduce their airport and navigation fees.

Airbus’ Single Weight Variant option is a ready-to-use solution to match with immediate needs and adapt your payload. It is ideal when the aircraft’s weight varies little between flights.

The Multiple Weight Variants (dual or more) option is a great alternative, with more flexibility over time and unlimited switches. You can adapt quickly and continuously with fast-evolving networks to address passenger and cargo demand in the best way.

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Want to go further?

Support Document

You will find the current eligible Weight Variants options per programme  in the document hereafter.

Legend

Weight variant legend

A320 Weight Variants

A320 Family Weight Variants

A330 Weight Variants

A330 Family Weight Variants

A350 Weight Variants

A350 Family Weight Variants

A380 Weight Variants

A380 Weight Variants

Weight variant legend

A320 Family Weight Variants

A330 Family Weight Variants

A350 Family Weight Variants

A380 Weight Variants