TAM Airlines, Brazil’s largest airline, has finalized a purchase agreement for 32 Airbus A320-family jets, among them 22 A320neos and 10 A320-family aircraft.
The order follows a memorandum of understanding signed in February. Engine selection will be announced by the airline at a later date, according to Airbus.
“Fuel efficient aircraft are key to our fuel conservation program and to our contribution to the industry’s CO2 emissions reduction,” says José Zaidan Maluf, contracts and supply vice president for TAM Airlines. “As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance our operational efficiency, these new A320s will allow us to keep a young fleet, reduce costs and further improve our environmental performance.”
On October 20, 2011, Brazil's TAM Airlines signed an order for 22 Airbus A320neos and 10 A320-family jets, thus firmiong a memorandum of understanding it had signed for the aircraft in February 2011
“We are very proud that our long-time customer and one of the largest A320 family operators will be among the first customers to benefit from the A320neo’s increased capabilities, including a 15 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions,” says John Leahy, Airbus’ chief operating officer, customers. “With more than 1,200 commitments in less than a year, the A320neo has proven to be a phenomenon for the short- to medium-haul segment that is not only good for business, but also for the environment.”
To date, TAM has ordered more than 200 Airbus aircraft, including 27 A350-900s, and operates nearly 150 Airbus aircraft to 43 destinations within Brazil and 18 destinations throughout Europe, the United States and South America.
The airline, which turned 35 this year, is among the largest Airbus A320-family operators, with 125 in total, including 30 A319s, 86 A320s and nine A321s. The airline already had an order backlog of 93 A320-family aircraft before its October 20 order.
TAM Airlines is Latin America's largest Airbus A320-family operator. By October 2011 TAM had ordered and leased a total of 250 A320-family jets, including 22 A320neos
In addition to the Qantas Group’s order for 110 A320-family aircraft earlier this month, TAM Airlines’ latest confirmed order should push Airbus’ orderbook for the A320 family to more than 8,060 aircraft. More than 4,800 A320-family jets have been delivered to some 340 customers and operators worldwide.
The A320neo has airframe commonality of more than 95 per cent with existing A320-family jets, making it an easy fit into existing fleets while offering up to 500 nautical miles (950 kilometres) more range or two tonnes more payload at a given range.
The Airbus A320neo is a re-engined version of the A320 family entering into service from 2015. It incorporates latest generation engines and large “Sharklet” wing tip devices, which together will deliver 15 per cent in fuel savings compared with existing A320-family aircraft, according to Airbus.
Reduction in fuel burn for the A320neo is equivalent to 1.4 million litres of fuel – the consumption of 1,000 mid size cars, saving 3,600 tonnes of C02 per aircraft per year, according to Airbus. The A320neo NOx emissions will be 50 per cent below CAEP/6, while the aircraft also will have a considerably smaller noise footprint than existing single-aisle jets.
Related to this story:
- Volaris Airlines Signs MOU for 30 A320neos and 14 A320-Family Jets
- Republic Airways Holdings Firms Order for 80 A320neo-Family Jets
- AviancaTaca Signs MOU for 33 A320neos, 18 A320-Family Jets
- TAM Airlines Signs MOU for 22 A320neos and 10 A320-Family Jets
- LAN Airlines Firms Up Order for 50 Airbus A320-Family Jets
