Chilean Oneworld carrier LAN Airlines has confirmed an agreement with Boeing to accelerate the delivery of 10 of its 32 Boeing 787s on order by three years.
ATI and Flightglobal first reported on 21 January LAN's plans to swap delivery slots with Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA). Due to more than two years of programme delays, LAN's original delivery date slipped from 2011 to 2014.
During the FIDAE 2010 air show today in Santiago Chile, LAN CEO Enrique Cueto explained that the fist aircraft delivery has now been rescheduled from 2014 to 2011.
Speaking to ATI and Flightglobal at the sidelines of the press conference, Cueto says: "The aircraft affected by the delivery rescheduling are 10. Delivery will start in the second quarter of 2011".
Another senior LAN source adds that the 787 aircraft will substitute all Boeing 767 aircraft over several years. However, there are "no current plans to also substitute the Airbus A340" in LAN's fleet because they have a "very specific mission" in LAN's network.
In its order for 32 787s placed in July 2007, LAN said it planned to purchase 18 787-8s and eight 787-9s, and lease six additional 787-9s from ILFC.
The 787-9s leased from ILFC were initially scheduled for delivery in 2011, and were targeted to replace the LAN's A340-300s on long range routes. Flightglobal's ACAS fleet database shows LAN currently operates five A340-300s and 23 Boeing 767-300ERs.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
