LAN has confirmed plans to add San Francisco as its fourth US gateway in 2010 as the Chile-based carrier has moved up its next Boeing 767 delivery.
In reporting a $231 million profit for 2009, LAN announced today the launch in July of four weekly Boeing 767-300ER frequencies between Lima and San Francisco. ATI first reported last year that LAN was preparing to make San Francisco its fourth US gateway after Miami, New York and Los Angeles with flights from Lan Peru's Lima hub.
LAN CFO Alejandro de la Fuente told analysts the new San Francisco flight will be designed to connect in Lima with LAN flights to Santiago, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo. LAN is also targeting connections in San Francisco to Asian destinations such as Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong.
The new Lima-San Francisco route, which is not currently served by any carrier, is part of a plan by LAN to expand passenger capacity by almost 10% in 2010. This includes a capacity increase of just under 10% on international routes, compared to 6% last year.
LAN's current fleet plan shows the carrier expanding its 767-300ER fleet from 28 to 29 aircraft in 2010. LAN executives told analysts today that the carrier elected earlier during the current economic crisis to delay some of its 767 deliveries. But LAN has now "reaccelerated" its next 767 delivery from October to February.
LAN executives added that the reacceleration is in response to the recovery in the market expected for this year.
LAN's 767 fleet, which is scheduled to grow to 30 aircraft in 2011 and 33 aircraft in 2012, will eventually be replaced with new Boeing 787s. ATI reported last week that LAN was poised to significantly move up its 787 deliveries through a slot swap with Japan's All Nippon Airways that could result in LAN taking its first 787 late this year.
de la Fuente told analysts today that there has been no change in LAN's 787 delivery schedule and the first of the carrier's 32 787s is now scheduled to arrive at the end of 2013. He declined to comment on the possibility of accelerating these deliveries as earlier 787 delivery slots become available. However, de la Fuente pointed out that "we're permanently looking for opportunities to grow and renew our long-haul fleet".
LAN first announced in 2007 the purchase of 26 787s and lease of six additional 787s. The fleet plan presented with LAN's fourth quarter earnings report has all 32 787s entering service between 2014 and 2019. Prior to the numerous delays to the 787 programme LAN was scheduled to begin 787 deliveries in 2011, starting with 787-9s leased from ILFC.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
