LATAM Airlines has recently taken delivery of its first Airbus A321neo aircraft leased from AerCap, and they’ve also placed an order for an additional 13 A321neo aircraft to expand their route network and regional growth.
This marks the initial delivery from a committed backlog of 76 A321neo aircraft, and in total, LATAM has 111 A320 Family aircraft yet to be delivered.
Airbus A321neo
The newly delivered Airbus A321neo for LATAM can accommodate up to 224 passengers and includes Airbus’ Airspace XL bins in the cabin.
These larger bins offer a 40% increase in storage space and can accommodate 60% more carry-on bags, enhancing the boarding experience for both passengers and cabin crews.
Notably, the recently arrived aircraft completed its journey with 49% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), aligning with LATAM’s sustainability commitment.
The Airbus A321neo is the largest member of the A320 Family and provides operators with the ability to serve a wide range of markets while maintaining a low seat-mile cost.
It has been a popular choice, with over 5,200 A321neo aircraft ordered by customers worldwide.
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Ramiro Alfonsín, Chief Financial Officer of LATAM Airlines Group, emphasized the alignment of their fleet renewal and modernization strategy with their sustainability goals, aiming to become a carbon-neutral group by 2050.
They plan to continue upgrading their fleet with next-generation aircraft to improve connectivity while also reducing their environmental impact.
LATAM Airlines Group is the leading group of airlines in Latin America, serving domestic markets in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, as well as international routes across Europe, Oceania, the United States, and the Caribbean.
LATAM currently operates 240 Airbus aircraft, making it the largest Airbus operator in Latin America. In July of the same year, LATAM received its first Airbus A320neo aircraft, which used 30% SAF.
Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International, expressed gratitude to LATAM for their ongoing confidence in Airbus aircraft.
He noted that the A321neo’s selection accelerates LATAM’s decarbonization efforts, as these aircraft are significantly more fuel-efficient, emitting 20% less CO2 and generating 50% less noise compared to previous-generation models.
Airbus regional footprint
Airbus has a strong presence in Latin America and the Caribbean, having sold over 1,150 aircraft in the region.
More than 750 of these aircraft are currently in operation throughout the region, with over 520 in the order backlog, representing a 58% market share of in-service passenger aircraft. Since 1994, Airbus has secured 75% of net orders in the region.
Notably, Airbus has been a pioneer in offering Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to its customers during delivery flights since 2016.
This aligns with the growing importance of SAF in achieving emissions reduction goals in the aviation industry.
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