Newsstand - LAN Airlines to Acquire 25 Airbus A318 and A319 Aircraft

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050629005982&newsLang=en

SANTIAGO, Chile--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 29, 2005--LAN Airlines S.A. ("LAN" or "the Company") announced today that its Board of Directors authorized the acquisition of 25 Airbus A318 and A319 aircraft. Additionally, the Company subscribed 15 options for similar aircraft.


Delivery of these aircraft will begin in 2006. The Company estimates that this order will represent an investment of US$ 750 million. These aircraft add to the nine A319 aircraft from LAN's previous order that will be delivered between 2005 and 2008.

LAN and its affiliates will use these aircraft to operate international routes across Latin America, as well as in the Chilean, Peruvian and Argentine domestic markets. A portion of the new Airbus A318 and A319s will also be used to gradually replace LAN's Boeing 737-200 fleet.

I don't find many airlines fly the A318. I was under the impression that it was not very efficient for the smaller amount of passengers it holds compared to the A319 and A320.

Like the 737-600, the A318 is too heavy for the pax/cargo load it carries, so it is indeed too inefficient so most airlines buy-up to the 73G/A319.

Who was the launching customer of A318 a few years back? I understand Iberia also ordered some earlier this year.

Both the 737-600NG and the A318 have had their market scooped by the new generation of larger RJs coming along from Bombardier and Embraer, lighter, cheaper and more efficient than a downsized larger aircraft. A318 orders have been very thin indeed, while the 737-600 figures are only more respectable because of a large initial order from SAS, which they now doubtless regret as some are parked out of use.

Initial plans were for the A318 to have a different, smaller engine to the rest of the A320 family. With the poor rate of sales that would have led to a real orphan.

Launch customer for the A318 was Frontier, with Air France following. Mexicana are the only other user to date.

Considering the inefficiencies and the lack of demand of the A318, Airbus must have really sold those A318's to LAN at fire sale prices to make up for the negatives.

Isn't the A321 the opposite? Big and underpowered? Like most plane lines, the sweet spot tends to be the middle of the model range.

IIRC TWA ordered quite a number of the A 318 ( around 100 ) in the good old days...

IIRC TWA ordered quite a number of the A 318 ( around 100 ) in the good old days...
And AA cancelled the remainder of the order (around 50) and sold the rest of to another airline, if I recall correctly.

Isn't the A321 the opposite? Big and underpowered?
The A321, unlike the equally-stretched Boeing 757-300, has been a considerable commercial success and has become the definitive trunk short-haul aircraft to beat. All across Europe the major carriers have gone for it in a big way. It has even replaced many of the widebody A300/A310s formerly employed on short-haul European routes.

If you ride in it or watch it's takeoff you will find performance is more than adequate. But in particular it's a beancounter's dream with costs per seat-mile way down on its predecessors. I always like riding in them. It seems more "big plane" inside than the A320.

The A321, unlike the equally-stretched Boeing 757-300, has been a considerable commercial success and has become the definitive trunk short-haul aircraft to beat. All across Europe the major carriers have gone for it in a big way. It has even replaced many of the widebody A300/A310s formerly employed on short-haul European routes.

If you ride in it or watch it's takeoff you will find performance is more than adequate. But in particular it's a beancounter's dream with costs per seat-mile way down on its predecessors. I always like riding in them. It seems more "big plane" inside than the A320.
I'd take any modern replacement over the A300/A310's!