Despite deferring several aircraft deliveries in response to poor traffic, LanChile expects to generate a higher profit in 2003 than in 2002 as competition on long-haul and Latin American routes fades and yields improve.
According to LanChile's chief financial officer Alejandro De la Fuente, two Airbus A340-300s have been postponed to 2004 and orders for several A320s switched to A319s. It will receive two new A319s at the end of 2003 and four more in 2004. However, speaking at the annual Air finance Conference in New York last week, de la Fuente says that if market conditions improve over the next 12 months, LanChile could soon start looking for additional A340 and Boeing 767s. He adds that LanChile is facing much less competition as a result of the troubles of other carriers.
Meanwhile, the airline's latest subsidiary, LanDominicana, is preparing to launch services from Santo Domingo to Miami.
Source: Flight International
