2019: Already off to a great start

After delivering a record number of aircraft to airlines in Latin America in 2018, Airbus has started 2019 with an eye toward expanding our dominant single-aisle market share and welcoming the newest member of our wide-body portfolio to the region.

So far in 2019, we have seen that airlines in Latin America are taking notice of the A220. Regional and domestic operators alike are looking for a smaller single-aisle aircraft that delivers on fuel efficiency, flexibility and passenger comfort. North American airlines that have already taken the leap include Delta, JetBlue and Moxy, taking advantage of the A220's clean-sheet design and its impressive 20 percent lower fuel burn and emissions per seat compared to previous generation aircraft and 13 percent lower costs per seat compared to its nearest competitor. With nearly 140 orders since the start of the Bombardier and Airbus partnership in July 2018, the A220 has quickly found its rightful place in the Airbus portfolio, and we expect it will also find a home in Latin America in the not too distant future.

In the coming weeks, Airbus looks forward to delivering the A330neo to Brazil-based Azul, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. Azul will be the first Latin America airline to deploy the A330neo as part of their international expansion plans. We are confident that Azul will find the A330neo is exceptionally versatile, as it can deliver 25 percent less fuel burn and CO2 emissions (versus previous generation competitor aircraft). It is also a true new generation aircraft, made of advanced materials, new optimized wing, composite Sharklets and highly efficient engines, leveraging A350 XWB latest technologies. Airbus is proud that Azul passengers and crews will soon discover the quietest cabin in its category with our exclusive "Airspace" by Airbus cabin, which offers the most modern in-flight products for the most comfortable flying experience.

Finally, Airbus is very pleased to launch the 2019 Airbus Latin America & Caribbean Market Survey. This survey aims to capture your perspectives on market trends, fleet decisions and Airbus. As with previous editions, results will be consolidated and published in a coming issue of Noticias Airbus, providing a view on how aviation professionals from airlines, airports, authorities and alike perceive the evolution of this growing market.

The anonymous survey should only take about 15 minutes to complete. We would greatly appreciate your inputs and insights before Friday 19^th April - they are invaluable to making the survey a success.

Arturo Barreira is President of Airbus Latin America and Caribbean. Having led the Latin America and Caribbean sales team for the past six years, Barreira has driven the success of Airbus' regional commercial aviation division, playing a key role in cementing its place as the market leader in the region.