TAM Airlines confirms order for 32 Airbus A320s
22 Oct 2011
Paris: TAM Airlines, Brazil's largest airline has finalized a purchase agreement for 32 fuel-efficient Airbus 320 aircraft, comprising of 22 A320neo and 10 A320 Family aircraft, the Toulouse, France-based aircraft maker has said.
"The order follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed last February. Engine selection will be announced by the airline at a later date," Airbus said in a statement.
"Fuel efficient aircraft are key to our fuel conservation program and to our contribution to the industry's CO2 emissions reduction," said Jose Zaidan Maluf, contracts and supply vice president of TAM Airlines.
With nearly 150 Airbus aircraft in operation, TAM has so far ordered over 200 Airbus aircraft, including 27 A350-900.
The air carrier operates aircraft to 43 destinations within Brazil and 18 destinations throughout Europe, the United States and South America.
According to Airbus, over 7,900 A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and more than 4,800 delivered to some 340 customers and operators worldwide.
The A320neo has a new engine option and large "Sharklet" wing tip devices, which together promise to deliver 15 per cent in fuel savings. These innovations are claimed to save 3,600 tonnes of C02 per aircraft per year.
The A320neo will enter service from 2015.
