Weighing 181,840 kg (401,000 lb), including 20,980 kg (46,300 lb) of test equipment, the A330 became the largest twinjet to have flown until the first flight of the Boeing 777.

Yes, the Airbus A330 is classified as a "Heavy" aircraft by ICAO and the FAA in 2026. This classification is determined by its Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW), which for the modern A330-900neo and A330-300 variants ranges from 242 to 251 tonnes (approx. 533,000 to 553,000 lbs). In aviation terminology, the "Heavy" callsign is used in radio communications (e.g., "Airbus 330 Heavy") to alert air traffic controllers and following aircraft about the significant wake turbulence it produces. Because the A330's wings are designed for high-efficiency long-haul flight, they create powerful wingtip vortices that can be dangerous for smaller "Light" or "Medium" planes taking off or landing behind it. In 2026, the A330 sits in the middle of the wide-body spectrum; it is significantly "heavier" than a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, but lighter than "Super" category aircraft like the Airbus A380 or the Boeing 747-8, which require even greater separation distances on the runway.