Airbus Updates No.2670

Qatar Airways Returns Four Subleased Airbus A350-900 from LATAM Group

May 25, 2020   

Doha, Qatar - Qatari flag carrier Qatar Airways returned four of five Airbus A350-900 aircraft that were subleased from LATAM Brasil.

The planes with registrations A7-AMB (MSN 64), A7-AQA (MSN 265), A7-AQB (MSN 282), and A7-AQC (MSN 313) were in service with Qatar Airways since March 2017.

Four Airbus A350-900 jets were ferried from Doha International to Belo Horizonte Tancredo Neves Last week. The first three aircraft are owned by the Irish lessor AerCap and the fouth by the Singapore-base BOC Aviation.

The fifth aircraft, A7-AMA (MSN 79) will continue to fly under Qatar Airways' colors for a while but it will also be returned to the lessor shortly. It is the only one that is owned by LATAM Airlines Group.

A7-AMA and A7-AMB were both delivered to LATAM in late 2016 and subleased to Qatar Airways in early 2017. The remaining three aircraft were delivered directly to Qatar in 2019. The aircraft were subleased to compensate for delayed deliveries of Qatar's A350-900s.

Qatar Airways currently operates 34 Airbus A350-900s  and fifteen A350-1000s.

Airbus Updates No.1436

TAM Airlines becomes first A350 XWB operator from the Americas

Most efficient wide body offers passengers new-generation flying experience

18 DECEMBER 2015 PRESS RELEASE

LATAM Airlines Group, made up of LAN Airlines and TAM Airlines, has taken delivery of its first A350 XWB in Toulouse, France. In doing so, TAM will become the first airline in the Americas to operate the all-new airliner and the fourth worldwide. TAM’s aircraft is configured in a premium two-class layout, with 348 seats, comprising of 30 Premium Business Class and 318 Economy. LATAM has ordered a total of 27 A350 XWB aircraft for the Group.

The carrier will start operating the A350 XWB commercially in January 2016 between Sao Paulo and Manaus, Brazil, as part of continued training and crew familiarization. This will be followed by operations from Sao Paulo to Miami in March and then to Madrid in April.

“Adding this aircraft into our fleet not only proves our commitment to maintaining one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the world, but it also strengthens our relationship with Airbus, a true partner with whom we have grown in the last decades,” said Roberto Alvo, CEO of International & Alliances, LATAM Airlines Group.

“The A350 XWB brings us the best of both worlds, complementing our existing eco-efficient fleet and the best in aviation technology to ensure even greater levels of comfort for our passengers," said Claudia Sender, CEO of TAM S.A.

"The A350 XWB symbolises Airbus’ mission to innovate and to provide the market with the world’s leading aircraft,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and CEO. “Offering unrivalled passenger flying experience and operational productivity, the A350 XWB is the perfect aircraft to support TAM’s long-haul strategy to Europe and the United States”.

Over the years, Airbus and TAM have grown together to become partners in building today’s dynamic aviation market in the region. In 1998, TAM became an Airbus operator with the A330-200. Together, LAN & TAM have ordered nearly 380 Airbus aircraft with more than 250 Airbus aircraft in operation. Today, LATAM is the biggest Airbus customer in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the top 10 Airbus customers worldwide.

The world’s latest generation airliner, the A350 XWB, is the newest member of Airbus’ modern, comfortable and efficient wide-body aircraft family. The long-range A350 XWB features the most modern aerodynamic design, carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines that together bring 25 percent reduction in fuel burn and emissions with significantly lower maintenance costs. For passengers, it brings new levels of in-flight comfort, with an extra-wide cabin offering more personal space in all classes, including 18-inch wide seats as standard in economy class.

Including the TAM delivery, so far in 2015 Airbus has delivered 13 A350 XWBs to four customers in four continents. Airbus has recorded a total of 775 firm orders from 41 customers worldwide, making the A350 XWB one of the most successful wide body aircraft ever. 

Airbus Updates No.1426

Airbus Updates No.1043

LATAM takes delivery of 200th A320 aircraft at Paris Air Show

TAM A320 equipped with Sharklet fuel saving wing-tip devices

18 JUNE 2013 PRESS RELEASE

LATAM Airlines Group, the holding company for LAN and TAM Airlines and third largest Airbus customer in terms of in-service and on order aircraft, has taken delivery of its 200th A320 aircraft at Le Bourget Paris Air Show. The TAM A320 is equipped with Sharklet fuel-saving wing-tip devices and powered by CFM engines.

“We are very happy to receive our 200th Airbus A320 at the 50th Paris Air Show, a truly momentous occasion that reflects the important relationship Airbus, LAN, TAM and now LATAM have shared since 1998,” said Roberto Alvo, LATAM Airlines Group’s Chief Corporate Officer. “The A320 has been a key element to the company’s growth over the years and success in South America.”

“We congratulate LATAM on this important milestone. We are convinced that the market-leading A320 Family will substantially contribute to LATAM’s strategy moving forward,” said John Leahy Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “We are proud to foster our partnership with LATAM, one of the largest airline groups in the world.”

LATAM received its first Sharklet-equipped aircraft in April 2013. Made from light-weight composites, Sharklets are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft allowing airlines to reduce fuel burn up to four percent and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 1,000 tons per aircraft per year.

LATAM has ordered a total of 380 aircraft, has almost 250 aircraft in operation and their joint Airbus backlog is nearly 170, making them the third largest airline customer and third largest operator of Airbus aircraft in the world. The airline group is also the largest A320 operator in Latin America and one of the largest in the world. 

With more than 760 aircraft sold and a backlog that exceeds 360, more than 500 Airbus aircraft are in operation throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In the last 10 years, Airbus has tripled its in-service fleet, while delivering more than 60 percent of all aircraft operating in the region.