Page 36 - AAA MAY - JUNE 2016 Online Magazine

NEWS

InduStry neWS And uPdAteS

Delta Signs Up for More A321s
Delta Airlines has placed orders for 37
additional A321s, raising the carrier’s total
orders for the type to 82. The CFM56
powered A321s will replace Delta’s older-
generation jets, including its MD-88s. The
new aircraft will be delivered concurrently
with existing A321 orders through 2019. Delta
also has 126 A320 Family aircraft in its fleet.
“The Airbus A320 family of aircraft
continues to be a cost-efficient, reliable
LATAM Airlines Group Unveils New Global LATAM Brand and customer-pleasing mainstay of our
LATAM Airlines Group has consolidated The LATAM Airlines Group offers the narrowbody fleet,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s
LAN Airlines, TAM Airlines and extensive route network in Latin America incoming chief executive. “The order
their affiliates under the new global along with a fleet of modern aircraft. The for the A321s is an opportunistic fleet
LATAM brand, unveiled last week at first flight of a LATAM-branded aircraft, move that enables us to produce strong
simultaneous launch events in countries a Boeing 767, took place on 1 May with a returns and cost-effectively accelerate
where the group operates. The aircraft one-off journey to Geneva to collect the the retirement of Delta’s 116 MD-88s in a
will receive new liveries and from May Olympic torch. capital efficient manner.” The new jetliners
onwards changes will include new The fleet-wide rebrand of all aircraft will further lower operating costs and
uniforms, airport signage and counter is expected to be completed by 2017 improve fleet wide fuel efficiency.
design as well as a consolidated website and in excess of 50 aircraft will receive 20 percent of Delta’s mainline narrowbody
(www.latam.com). their new branding before the end of fleet is to be replaced over the next five
“In the coming days, aircraft with this year. The group has also launched its years and the new A321s will feature Sharklet
the new LATAM image will take to the new integrated website www.latam.com, wingtips for an additional four percent
skies, representing a historic milestone which will be available in six languages. improvement in fuel efficiency. The aircraft
for the leading airline group in Latin The airline group has also unveiled new will be fitted with all-new interiors and cabin
America,” said Enrique Cueto, CEO uniforms for over 23,000 cabin crew, elements including high-capacity overhead
of LATAM Airlines Group. “It will be sales office and airport staff throughout bins, the latest in in-flight entertainment, full
a gradual change with the principal LATAM Airline Group’s network, with the spectrum LED ambient lighting, standard 110v
objective of simplifying and improving global roll-out to begin before the end of power available at every row, as well as in-
the travel experience of our passengers. 2016. flight Wi-Fi and Delta Studio.

First International Journey Completed by 737 MAX
Boeing’s 737 MAX 8 has successfully vice president and general manager of the
completed its first international trop for 737 MAX program, Boeing Commercial
high altitude flight testing in La Paz, Bolivia. Airplanes.
The MAX’s capability to take off and land The fourth and final 737 MAX test
at high altitudes from the airport’s 13,300- airplane is expected to make its maiden
foot (4,050-meter) altitude runway was flight in the coming weeks. The aircraft will
during the trials. join the three other test airplanes that have
“The engines and other systems cumulatively completed more than a 100
performed well, as expected, under test flights till date. Delivery of the first 737
extreme conditions. That’s exactly what MAX to a customer is slated for the fourth
we wanted to see,” said Keith Leverkuhn, quarter of 2017.

36 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE MAY/ JUNE 2016 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA