Sustainable Milestones, Fleet Expansions: The Week in Aerospace

LATAM Airlines Group achieved a remarkable feat with its first-ever sustainable aviation fuel-powered delivery flight. Meanwhile, Viva Aerobus expanded its fleet by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the acquisition of 90 Airbus A321neo aircraft. Also, Mexico's major carriers, Volaris, Aeroméxico and Vivaaerobus, reported a robust 16.5% passenger increase compared to last year.

This is The Week in Aerospace!

LATAM Airlines' Performs First SAF-Powered Ferry Flight

LATAM Airlines Group performed its first delivery flight (ferry flight) using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) between Toulouse, France, and Fortaleza, Brazil. The aircraft used a fuel blend with 30% SAF that was produced from used cooking oil. Learn more about it here. 

Viva Aerobus Expands Fleet with 90 Airbus A321neo Aircraft

Viva Aerobus has signed a MoU to buy 90 Airbus A321neo aircraft, maintaining its fleet standardized with A320 Family aircraft. “These 90 A321neo 240-seater aircraft will allow us to grow and renew our fleet and remain the youngest in Latin America.,” says Juan Carlos Zuazua, CEO, Viva Aerobus. To date, Viva Aerobus has ordered 170 Airbus aircraft. Learn more about it here. 

Aerospace Resurgence: Full Speed Ahead

The aerospace industry has shown remarkable resilience after facing the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, the industry is experiencing a strong recovery, with a significant increase in new aircraft sales for both Airbus and Boeing, along with record-breaking exports. The key to sustaining this growth lies in attracting and retaining talent, particularly in fields like technology, engineering and design. However, there are critical challenges that need to be addressed, explains Roberto Corral, President, Innocentro, to MBN.

Mexico's Major Carriers Report Robust Passenger Increase in 2023

In the first half of the year, Volaris, Aeroméxico and Viva Aerobus, Mexico’s three major airlines, collectively transported 39.55 million passengers to domestic and international destinations, reflecting a significant 16.5% growth compared to the same period in 2022. Volaris emerged as the largest carrier, moving 16.41 million customers, 41.5% of the total passengers, read more here. 

Avianca Tops Global Airlines in On-Time Performance

Avianca secures the top spot in On-Time Performance (OTP) among global airlines with OTP of 86.61%, closely followed by LATAM Airlines with 86.54% and Qatar Airways with 85%. Within Latin America, Copa continues to dominate the region with an OTP of 89.46%, as reported by CIRIUM.