After a record-breaking 2017, what can we expect in 2018?

It seems that each year, it gets harder for our team to repeat the success we had the previous year. In 2017, we broke the industry record by selling over 200 airplanes in Latin America and reaching 100 percent market share once more. Last time we even came close, Airbus sold 100 aircraft in 2015.

And the sales numbers don’t tell the whole story. In fact, what I find interesting is the profile of the airlines that bought our airplanes in 2017. JetSMART, VivaAerobus, Viva Air and Volaris are all Low Cost Carriers. These are the airlines driving the region’s dynamic growth and operating the world’s youngest and most modern aircraft.

But the question I keep getting these days is what will 2018 look like after such a successful 2017. The answer only gets harder year after year. In fact, we see both opportunities and challenges ahead.

The first thing we will have to manage closely is delivering a record number of aircraft on time and on quality. Airbus will continue its commercial aircraft leadership in 2018 by building on the company’s record 700+ deliveries in 2017. Roughly 10 percent of those deliveries are destined for our region.

And following the historic sales success of the A320neo Family, 2018 will be the year of the Widebody. The A330neo will make its debut in the Americas this year and we couldn’t be prouder to welcome this true modern classic. The A330neo is perfect for our region because of its ability to efficiently fly routes from 30 minutes to over 15 hours. Thanks to Airbus cockpit commonalities and Mixed-Fleet Flying (MFF), A320 and A350 pilots can also fly A330 Family aircraft, saving airlines time and money on retraining.

You can also expect to hear more about our innovative interior designs in 2018. We look forward to introducing more and more airlines to many cabin innovations and latest-generation in-flight experiences, such as Airspace, that create the perfect cabin environment to help long journeys pass quickly. In Latin American, for example, airlines are already leveraging up to six additional seats in their A320s thanks to the extra space provided by Spaceflex, a rear galley and lavatory configuration that makes more efficient use of the rear cabin volume.

I look forward to seeing many of you next month at FIDAE, our region’s most important airshow, where we look forward to highlight all of this and much more. Until then.

Rafael Alonso is President of Airbus Latin America and Caribbean. With more than three decades in aviation, Rafael has spent most of his career promoting the industry, its evolution and influence throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.