LATAM Airlines has today ordered 17 Airbus A321neos, expanding their total A320neo Family orderbook to 100 aircraft. The carrier has also endorsed the A321XLR, which they plan to add to their long-haul fleet in the future.
On Thursday (July 21, 2022), Airbus announced from the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow that LATAM Airlines has placed an order for 17 Airbus A321neos, expanding their A320neo Family orderbook to 100 aircraft. The carrier has also confirmed their commitment to the A321XLR (Xtra Long Range) model, which they plan to add to their long haul fleet in the future. The A321neo is the largest member of Airbus’ A320neo Family, and incorporates new generation engines and advanced sharklets, which combine to deliver over 20 percent in fuel and CO2 savings, as well as a 50 percent noise footprint reduction. Completing its first test flight last month, the A321XLR offers an additional range extension to 4,700 nm, with a flight time of up to 11 hours.
In Thursday’s announcment, Airbus’ Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International, Christian Scherer, said,
“We applaud LATAM’s strategic vision and sustainability ambition. This order for the A321neo on the heels of its restructuring is a strong sign for the value Airbus brings to making this vision and ambition a reality. The A321XLR will enable the opening of new routes and will allow LATAM to increase its international reach in the region.”
LATAM Airlines Group S.A. is the leading airline group in Latin America, offering service in five domestic markets (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) as well as international service within Latin America and to Europe, Oceania, the United States and the Caribbean. The Group operates a fleet of Boeing 767, 777, and 787s, as well as Airbus A319, A320, A320neo, A321 aircraft. LATAM Cargo Chile, LATAM Cargo Colombia and LATAM Cargo Brazil are the LATAM Airlines freight subsidiaries. In addition to passenger aircraft belly hold cargo capacity, the Group operates a fleet of 13 dedicated freighters, which will be expanded to 21 freighters by 2023.
As of June 30, 2022, Airbus had won more than 8,100 A320neo Family orders from over 130 customers worldwide, including nearly 550 A321XLRs. Since entry into service six years ago, Airbus has delivered over 2,300 A320neo Family aircraft, which have contributed to a 15 million ton decrease in CO2 production. In Latin America and the Caribbean, Airbus has sold over 1,100 aircraft, and currently has a backlog of 500, with over 700 in operation in the region, representing nearly 60 percent of the in-service fleet. Since 1994, Airbus has secured approximately 70 percent of net new orders in the region.
Source(s): Airbus, LATAM
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