LATAM Airlines will expand its widebody fleet with at least 10 Boeing 787s.
The two companies announced an agreement on Monday that also includes options for five more 787-9s.
Currently with 37 Dreamliners, LATAM aims to reach 52 aircraft of the type by 2030.
The Santiago, Chile-based carrier’s fleet comprises 10 787-8s and 27 787-9s, which are the basis for long-haul flights, complemented by 10 Boeing 777-300ERs based in Brazil.
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The airline is retrofitting the cabins of its 787s to offer more comfort and entertainment. The new Dreamliners, in turn, will be delivered from 2025 at a rate of two aircraft per year.
“The Boeing 787 is a much more efficient aircraft, allowing us to continue growing sustainably while reducing our carbon footprint as we drive the growth of our operations. This order will enable us to receive at least two aircraft of this model each year from 2025 until the end of the decade,” said Ramiro Alfonsín, Chief Financial Officer of the LATAM Airlines Group.
“We appreciate LATAM’s continued confidence in the 787 Dreamliner family to further expand its international network from hubs in Santiago, Sao Paulo and Lima,” said Mike Wilson, Boeing vice president of Commercial Sales for Latin America and the Caribbean. “As demand for air travel rises, we will continue to support LATAM’s growth strategy and goal of connecting Latin America with the world.”
Changing long-distance fleet
Formed by the union of Lan Chile and TAM, LATAM inherited a diverse fleet of widebodies. While the Chilean airline was flying 767 and 787 jets, the Brazilian carrier had Airbus A330s and Boeing 777s, and was also preparing to fly the Airbus A350.
In recent years, LATAM has decided to rationalize its widebodies, abandoning the A350 and converting all active 767s into freighters.
In addition, the airline is preparing to receive the A321XLR, a narrow-body jet with a range of up to 4,700 nm,
