A new model of airplane, the Airbus A330neo, stopped at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday as part of a series of test flights to cities around the world.
The plane will be flown by TAP Air Portugal starting in 2019. The Portuguese carrier does not fly to Atlanta but is the launch carrier for the A330neo.
The A330neo jet has bigger overhead bins and multi-colored LED lighting, and burns 25 percent less fuel than similar previous models.
The Airbus jet came from Chicago to Atlanta at the tail end of a tour to 15 cities on five continents. The plane’s next and last stop will be Toulouse, France. The “route-proving” tour of test flights is part of the aircraft certification process.
The A330neo planes flown by TAP Air Portugal will have 298 seats.
TAP Air Portugal, which ordered 21 A330neos, flies to four U.S. cities: New York’s John F. Kennedy International, Newark, Boston and Miami.
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