Roberto Alvo, Senior VP International & Alliances, LATAM Airlines Group; Fabrice Bregier, CEO & President, Airbus; Enrique Cueto, CEO, LATAM Airlines Group; Rafael Alonso, President, Airbus Latin America & Caribbean; Jose Maluf, VP Fleet & Engines, LATAM Airlines Group.
LATAM Airlines Group will be the first in North, Central and South America to operate the A320neo.
TOULOUSE, FRANCE – LATAM Airlines Group took delivery of its first Airbus A320neo at Airbus’s headquarters in Toulouse, France. The ultra-fuel efficient aircraft – showcasing LATAM’s white, indigo and coral livery and fitted with Pratt & Whitney Pure Power PW1100-JM engines – was presented to LATAM Airlines Group CEO, Enrique Cueto, and other LATAM executives by Fabrice Bregier, Airbus President and CEO, and will be the first A320neo to operate in the Americas.
LATAM Airlines Group also received its fourth Airbus A350 XWB – and the first to bear the LATAM Airlines livery – in a joint delivery ceremony. In December 2015, LATAM Airlines Group became the first airline group in the Americas to operate the Airbus A350 XWB.
“Once again, LATAM passengers will have the opportunity to be the first in the Americas to fly the latest Airbus aircraft, demonstrating our commitment to offering the most technologically-advanced, efficient and comfortable aircraft,” said Enrique Cueto, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group. “The A320neo will play an important role in our fleet, supporting the operation of our unrivalled domestic and regional network, transporting passengers throughout Latin America.”
“Over the years, Airbus and LATAM have grown together to become partners in building today’s dynamic aviation market in Latin America, which is why we are especially proud that the first A320neo in the Americas will be flying in LATAM livery,” said Fabrice Bregier, Airbus President and CEO of Airbus. “We are certain that this aircraft will complement their existing fleet and further their success in the region.”
LATAM Airlines Group’s first A320neo will fly from Toulouse tonight (30 August), arriving in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, tomorrow morning (31 August). Initially, LATAM Airlines Brazil will operate the aircraft on domestic routes in Brazil, serving destinations including Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Campo Grande, Curitiba, Florianopolis, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro (Galeao) and Sao Paulo (Guarulhos). In November of this year, it will commence flights on regional routes in South America.
The aircraft is configured with a 174-seat layout featuring 18”-wide seats and Airbus’s Space-Flex cabin configuration.
The A320neo Family incorporates the latest technologies including new generation engines and ‘Sharklet’ wing tip devices, which together deliver more than 15 percent in fuel savings from the beginning of operations.
LATAM Airlines Group has ordered 67 A320neo aircraft – both A320neo and A321neo variants – and is due to receive one further aircraft before the end of 2016. In total, the airline group has more than 250 Airbus aircraft in operation.
LATAM Airlines Group’s first A320neo has the manufacturer serial number (MSN) 7126 and registration prefix PT-TMN.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
