LATAM Airlines Group orders 28 A320neo, cancels A350s

LATAM Airlines Group has placed a tentative order for twenty-eight A320neo Family aircraft directly from Airbus, while at the same time cancelling its remaining unfilled order for two A350-1000s.

The South American holding announced the new order in a press release without going into details concerning delivery timelines or variants.

“The purchase of these highly efficient aircraft is a sign of the commitment we have made with the transformation towards a carbon-neutral LATAM in 2050. At the same time, these 70 aircraft [including 42 previously ordered units] reinforce the connectivity scale of the region. We will continue working responsibly to exit Chapter 11 with a fleet that accompanies the group’s new challenges,” Chief Executive Roberto Alvo said.

The order remains subject to US Bankruptcy Court consent as it is supervising LATAM’s Chapter 11 restructuring.

The motion request was heavily redacted but offers certain additional details, including that the pool of 28 aircraft comprises both A320-200N and A321-200N variants. In addition, the group disclosed that the order was a part of a more complex deal with Airbus, which comprises the cancellation of the two remaining A350-1000s orders inherited from TAM Linhas Aéreas and various adjustments to the existing orders in terms of delivery schedules, payment schedules, and services provided by Airbus. LATAM underlined that the additional aircraft would be purchased at a “favourable” price.

The group currently has twenty-three A320-200Ns and nineteen A321-200Ns on firm order from Airbus. In terms of its A320neo Family fleet, it operates twelve aircraft split between LATAM Airlines, LATAM Airlines Brasil, and LATAM Airlines Perú AOCs, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows.