MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

LAN signs contract for 26 carbon fiber B 787 “Dreamliners”

Chile's flag carrier LAN Airlines SA announced last week it will add 32 Boeing 787 Dreamliner long-haul aircraft to the company's fleet between 2011 and 2016, marking the largest investment in the company's history. The 26 aircraft contract is in the range of 3.2 billion US Dollars.

The 787 Dreamliner is expected to begin commercial operations by the end of 2008. The fuel-efficient, ecologically friendly airplane has the capacity to seat 250 to 300 passengers, in two classes. Boeing Co. unveiled its first fully assembled 787 earlier this month, and the Chicago-based company has already more than 600 orders from customers lured by the jet maker's promise that the midsize, long-haul aircraft will burn less fuel, be cheaper to maintain and offer more passenger comforts than comparable planes flying today. The 787 is the first large commercial airplane made mostly of carbon-fiber composites, which are lighter, more durable and less prone to corrosion than aluminum. LAN said its 787 order is aimed at replacing and expanding the company's long-haul fleet, and will allow it to run new international routes. "This historic investment assures the future growth of the company," chief executive Enrique Cueto said in a statement. LAN airline has built a large presence in Argentina, Ecuador, Dominican Republic and Peru, and has also a significant cargo business. It operates 70 passenger aircraft and 10 freighters. The announced fleet expansion comes as financially solid airlines and strong economic growth in Latin America have fueled explosive growth in air travel in the region. A recent Goldman Sachs report cited a Boeing forecast of annual Latin American air traffic growth of 6.1 percent over the next 20 years, one of the highest rates in the world. But the rapid growth has hit bottlenecks in some countries, most notably in Brazil and Argentina, where under funded air traffic control systems and airport infrastructures have caused chronic delays and raised safety concerns.