LAN Airlines Receives First Airbus A318

Chile-based LAN Airlines, which operates a group of joint-venture carriers in several South American countries, has taken delivery of the first of 20 Pratt & Whitney PW6000-powered Airbus A318s it has on order. Credit: Airbus S.A.S. 2007 – photo by exm Company/H. Goussé

Chile-based LAN Airlines has taken delivery of its first Airbus A318.

The A318 is part of the successful A320 family that also includes the A319, A320 and A321, together with specialized VIP/business jet versions of the A319 (the Airbus Corporate Jet) and the A318 (the A318 Elite). Orders for the various members of the family totaled 5,087 aircraft by the end of May and Airbus had delivered 3,123.

LAN Airlines placed an order for 20 A318s in 2005 and specified the newly developed Pratt & Whitney PW6000 engine to power them. LAN's new A318s also feature the all-new cabin that recently entered service on other members of the A320 Family and provides even more passenger comfort in a modern and bright environment.

The Pratt & Whitney powered versions of the A318 were certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on May 25, 2007 and by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on December 21, 2005.

Currently LAN group carriers operate 34 Airbus aircraft: 15 A319s, 15 A320s and 4 A340-300s. The new A318 will be put into service on LAN Airline's domestic network in Chile, complementing its A319 and A320 airline operations.

As the latest A320-family innovation, the all-new cabin enhances passenger comfort. It provides up to 15 percent more useable overhead stowage volume and a measurable noise reduction in the cabin, combined with state-of-the-art design features.

The new cabin also weighs less than the former design, making the aircraft more fuel efficient; a benefit in terms of operational costs and environmental progress.

Last week Airbus won a major new A320-family customer in Latin America. Colombian carrier Avianca ordered 33 A320-family aircraft and optioned another 27, in addition to ordering five A330 widebody aircraft and optioning five.

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