LATAM expands fleet, prioritizes sustainability with A321neo delivery
The delivery is the first of 14 A321neo aircraft to be added to the fleet
Airbus announced that LATAM Airlines has taken delivery of its first A321neo, leased from AerCap, and awaits 13 additional A321neo aircraft to expand its sustainable fleet. According to the press release, this is the first delivery in a backlog of 76 A321neo aircraft. LATAM is reportedly waiting on 111 A320 family aircraft to join its fleet.
The recently delivered A321neo can seat up to 224 passengers and has Airspace LX bins in the cabin, which provide 40 percent more storage space and accommodate up to 60 percent more carry on bags. The press release said that this will relax the boarding process for passengers and cabin crews on LATAM Airlines.
The press release also stated that the A321neo flew to its delivery destination using 49 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
“Our fleet renewal and modernization strategy is fully aligned with our sustainability commitment and brings us closer to the goal of becoming a carbon-neutral group by 2050,” said Ramiro Alfonsín, the Chief Financial Officer of LATAM Airlines Group. “We will continue to work on enhancing the current fleet with next-generation aircraft to further improve our connectivity while caring for the environment.”
“We thank LATAM for their continued confidence in our aircraft, reselecting the A321neo for its continued network growth. This strategic move also accelerates LATAM decarbonization trajectory as the A321neos are at least 20 percent more fuel-efficient, emitting 20% less CO2 and 50% less noise compared to previous generation aircraft,” said Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International.
The A321neo is the largest member of the A320 family. The aircraft allows carriers to offer low seat-mile costs compared to other single-aisle aircraft, the press release said.
LATAM Airlines Group and its affiliates have a significant presence in five domestic markets across Latin America: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The airline operates 240 Airbus aircraft and is the largest Airbus operator in Latin America, Airbus said in its press release.
The addition of the A321neo to LATAM’s fleet is a step forward for sustainability. In 2016, Airbus became the first aircraft manufacturer to offer SAF for delivery flights, which is now common for Airbus delivery centres as part of its goal to reduce emissions.