Airbus’s A350-900 is making its FIDAE debut by taking part in the flying display, just weeks after Brazil’s TAM became the first Latin American airline to introduce the big twin into service.
The European manufacturer, which has been attending FIDAE for two decades, has brought showpiece aircraft to the show before, displaying the A380 in 2014, and its vice-president for Latin America, Rafael Alonso, is excited about the type’s prospects in the region.
“Latin America has tremendous potential for development of additional long-haul routes, and with the A350 XWB already operating in the region with TAM, we believe it is the most relevant aircraft to debut at FIDAE,” he says.
MSN-2, the aircraft at FIDAE, is fitted with a two-class cabin with 42 lie-flat, business-class seats in a four-abreast configuration and 210 economy-class seats set at nine abreast.
Despite Brazil’s troubles, Alonso is confident the industry can bounce back. “We are seeing airlines respond to the region’s economic crisis very strategically, by reducing capacities and not renewing leasing agreements,” he says. “The business models of airlines in our region are working and the consolidation that took place with LAN and TAM and the acquisition of TACA by Avianca have created powerful airline groups with enormous purchasing power.”
However, narrowbodies will continue to drive growth in the region, Alonso believes. “The A320 has become the family of choice in the region, for low-cost carriers and flagship airlines alike,” he says. “The Neo has 345 firm orders from six airline customers. This represents nearly 70% of orders in the new generation single-aisle aircraft market.”
Source: Flight Daily News
