At the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, the company AviancaTaca Holding S.A. signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of 51 A320 family aircraft.

This order includes 33 new eco-efficient A320neo aircraft, available from 2017.

AviancaTaca Holding S.A., the parent company of the recently integrated airlines Avianca and Taca, and its subsidiary in Ecuador, Aerolíneas Galápagos S.A., signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus for the acquisition of 51 new A320 family aircraft.

This order includes a total of 33 A320neo generation aircraft, characterized by their incorporation of eco-efficient technology and aerodynamic sharklet wingtips, that together allow fuel savings of up to 15%, equivalent to a reduction of approximately 3,600 tons of CO2 per plane per year. Powered by ecological engines the A320neo allows a double digit reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as well as a notable reduction in engine noise.

The A320neo has over 95 per cent airframe commonality with the A320 family models currently in service at AVIANCATACA, seamlessly integrating with the existing fleet and giving the group great flexibility. 

Once firm, this order for 51 aircraft will be the largest request by a single organization in Latin America in the history of Airbus, and the largest order of A320neo aircraft in the region.

This new Airbus aircraft order constitutes a new impetus for AviancaTaca in its fleet renewal process, allowing the organization to expand into new local and international markets.

?Since 1998 we have relied on the advantages of the A320 family, especially with regards to its benefits for travelers, operational performance and proven technical reliability. The addition of the A320neo to the fleet of airlines that comprise AviancaTaca will result in more efficiency, lower fuel consumption and greater range", said Fabio Villegas, President and CEO of AviancaTaca. "The Memorandum of Understanding signed today reinforces our ongoing commitment to provide customers with an exceptional service aboard the most modern fleet in the region"

The AviancaTaca Airbus fleet
Even before their integration as a airline group both AVIANCA and TACA based their fleet modernization and expansion programs on Airbus aircraft. The number of firm orders directly with the manufacturer totals 133 Airbus aircraft. In addition the companies also operate 22 leased aircraft. 

Avianca and Taca are the only airlines in the region (and the third in the world), to operate all the family of A320 aircraft that includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321 models.

"The A320neo will be the defining factor in allowing Avianca and Taca to achieve new levels of savings and efficiency", said John Leahy, COO Clients Airbus. "We are very proud that this well known airline group continues to count on Airbus as its ally in its project to modernize and reduce operating costs".

About the A320 family
Sources from Airbus indicate that "the A320 family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is recognized as the benchmark for single-aisle aircraft. The aircraft offer the most advanced technology available today, the most spacious and comfortable cabin, and the highest grade of operative communality. With 99.7 percent reliability and extended service periods, the A320 family also has the lowest operating costs of any similar aircraft type".


About AviancaTaca Holding S.A.:is a holding company for the leading airlines in Latin America of which the most well known are Avianca and Taca. With a modern fleet of more than 140 short, medium and long range aircraft in operation and an exceptional team comprised of more than 15,000 Employees, Avianca and Taca directly serve more than 100 destinations in the Americas and Europe, which connect to more than 750 destinations in the world through interline partner airlines and codeshare agreements around the world. With more than four million members in their loyalty program, the integrated companies register annual combined sales revenues of approximately three billion dollars. Their multi-hub operating model offers passengers varied and convenient travel options, through Bogotá, Colombia; San Salvador, El Salvador; Lima, Peru and San Jose, Costa Rica. The group also offer a wide portfolio of air products and services, including cargo, mail, courier and specialized aeronautical assistance and tourism plans

 

TACA Airlines and Air Canada signed a codeshare agreement to offer their clients more and improved flight options. The agreement allows both companies to commercialize flights under a same code, therefore combining segments of both airlines under a single ticket. TACA Airlines customers will be able to fly seamlessly to destinations in Canada as well as provide greater access to Latin American destinations for customers of Air Canada. The shared code is effective for ticket purchase starting on the 5th of May for travel starting from May 12.

 

“We are very pleased to announce our codeshare partnership with future Star Alliance member Taca Airlines. This agreement will offer our customers better connectivity between both airlines’ networks and greater flexibility when planning their travel itineraries,” said Yves Dufresne, VicePresident Alliances and International Operations for Air Canada.

 

 

“We are confident that this agreement opens new travel possibilities that benefit our customers. This codeshare joins air travel leaders in service of Canada and Latin America enabling their customers to enjoy an improved flight experience, through seamless travel between those regions,” said Alex Benitez, Vice-President Alliances, Fleet and Network Planning for AviancaTaca. “We continue to harness new opportunities as markets grow and work towards delivering improved connectivity and new routes that our customers have requested. This agreement complements the already operating codeshare between Avianca and Air Canada.”

 

This codeshare agreement is framed in the integration process that AviancaTaca is carrying out in order to become member of Star Alliance. This process will culminate in May 2012. The incorporation, in addition to standardizing processes and services with the 27 member airlines, includes signing codeshare agreements and frequent flyer agreements with most of them.

 

Markets Served by the Agreement, Phase I

The first phase of implementation includes the following final destinations in Canada: Montreal (YUL), Vancouver (YVR), Edmonton (YEG), Ottawa (YOW) and Calgary (YYC). TACA customers can travel to destinations like Mexico (MEX), Los Angeles (LAX), Orlando (MCO), Miami (MIA), Dallas (DFW) or Toronto (YYZ) to connect via Air Canada to their final destination in Canada. Whereas customers of Air Canada can access the route network of TACA in Latin America through Mexico, Los Angeles and Miami, to El Salvador (SAL), Guatemala (GUA) and San Jose (SJO). Further implementations will gradually include other destinations in TACA’s wide route network throughout Latin America and Air Canada’s extensive network in Asia and Europe.

 

Passenger Benefits

The codeshare allows passengers to enjoy seamless travel to other destinations with a single ticket purchase, whether they leave from stations operated by Air Canada or by TACA Airlines. The travelers will be able to enjoy quick connections and luggage connectivity through to their final destination, even though they are flying segments operated by different airlines.

 

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada's largest full-service airline and the largest provider of scheduled passenger services in the Canadian market, the Canada-U.S. transborder market and in the international market to and from Canada. Together with regional partner Jazz, Air Canada serves over 32 million customers annually and provides direct passenger service to over 170 destinations on five continents. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance™, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network.

 

About TACA Airlines

TACA Airlines has united the American continent through its three hubs (El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Peru) and a wide route network that serves from Canada to Brazil, 51 destinations distributed in 22 countries. Its fleet is composed of Airbus 319, 320, and 321 aircrafts and new Embraer E190. Alongside Avianca, they integrate the leading group of airlines in Latin America, serving over 100 destinations. More information on TACA Airlines and its services at TACA.COM and for information on Avianca visit www.avianca.com.