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LATAM takes delivery of first A350 XWB in the Americas
LATAM took delivery of its first new A350 XWB in December in TAM livery, making the airline group the first in the Americas to fly the A350 XWB and the fourth operator in the world. LATAM trusted Airbus to be part of the carrier’s fleet renewal strategy by ordering 27 A350 XWBs, which represents the largest order of this type in the region.
Equipped with Rolls-Royce engines, the airplane will start operating in January from its base in Sao Paulo to Manaus, followed by international operations to Miami and Madrid.
The A350 XWB is designed with the passenger experience in mind, offering enhanced levels of in-flight comfort that is noticeable immediately upon entering the aircraft. It includes the widest windows of any jetliner, larger overhead stowage compartments as well as the latest generation of in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems. However, what makes the Xtra comfort is the personal space, including the Airbus 18-inch wide seats standard in economy, a 220-inch fuselage cross-section designed with straighter side walls and a flat floor in the cabin further increasing overall comfort and spaciousness.
The A350 XWB not only focuses on passenger comfort. It is also the world’s most modern airplane, fitted with the latest technological innovations, including Airbus' innovative fly-by-wire system, which allows greater commonality across the complete range of Airbus aircraft types. LATAM, which already operates seven A330s will benefit from the Common Type Rating with the A350 XWB, and its current crews will be ready to fly after an 11-day training course. Eight crews are already in Toulouse Airbus Training Centre, and a total of 12 will be ready to fly the A350 XWB by mid-January.
By including the A350 XWB into its fleet, LATAM has strengthened its long haul strategy with the most efficient aircraft in the world. This jetliner will accommodate 348 passengers in a two-class configuration with true long-haul capability offering a range of up to 7,600 nautical miles while delivering unbeatable economics, reducing fuel consumption by 25 percent compared to current generation aircraft.
LATAM started operating Airbus aircraft in 1998 and since then, the airline has ordered nearly 400 and has become the fifth largest A320 Family operator in the world with more than 230 aircraft in its fleet. With the merger of LAN and TAM, LATAM has become the largest airline group in Latin America.
All these elements that will reinforce LATAM as a long haul leader in the region, have also created the path for the success of the A350 XWB worldwide, with nearly 800 aircraft firmly ordered by 41 customers.
Most importantly, passengers in Latin America will benefit from a new era of comfort. So welcome aboard.
To access more information about TAM’s first A350 XWB, including pictures and videos, visit: http://www.a350xwb.com/delivery/tam/
For more information:
Paul Moultrie - Head of Airline Marketing, Latin America & Caribbean
paul.moultrie@airbus.com
Bernard de L’Estoile, Airline Marketing Director,
bernard.delestoile@airbus.com
Sergio Vicente, Marketing Analyst,
sergio.vicente@airbus.com