LATAM Aircraft Color Schemes Revealed - Will appear on Current Airlines of LAN & TAM Group

LAN, LAN Argentina, LAN Peru and TAM, all airlines of the LATAM group that currently fly to Argentina and Uruguay, will soon fly under that one name and in the new color scheme revealed earlier today. 

It features a fuselage that is nearly all-white with all capital "LATAM" titles and a double sideways "V" logo above the windows in the front.  The tail features interlaced blue and pinkish red stripes with the blue sweeping down to the lower rear fuselage as illustrated here:

LATAM 787-9 over Rio de Janeiro.  (Photo: LATAM)   

LATAM A350 over the Andes.  (Photo: LATAM)

Details and commentary: 

http://airwaysnews.com/blog/2016/04/28/latam-unveils-its-new-unified-livery/

http://www.airlinereporter.com/2016/04/latam-releases-new-livery-branding/

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/latam-airlines-group-premieres-the-global-latam-brand-with-new-aircraft-uniform-and-airport-designs-300259422.html

Look for this new color scheme at many airports in Argentina plus Montevideo (MVD) in Uruguay!

PHOTO GALLERY: LAN Argentina A320 LV-FUX with special "Copa America - Chile 2015" Stickers

The Copa America - Chile 2015 football/soccer championships with national teams from all over the Americas participating was played in Chile in July and August and to celebrate the occasion, the Chilean airline LAN and some of its South American affiliates, including TAM, applied special "Copa America Chile 2015" stickers to select aircraft in their fleets.     

The excellent Argentine aviation blog, Gaceta Aeronautica, noted that at least 38 aircraft from the LAN fleet plus one TAM airplane had the stickers applied, including 3 A319's each of LAN and LAN Ecuador, 24 A320's of LAN, 4 A320's of LAN Argentina, 4 767-300's of LAN, and 1 TAM 777-300. 

The LAN Argentina A320's were LV-BET, LV-BRY, LV-BSJ and LV-FUX pictured below.

LAN Argentina A320, LV-FUX (c/n 4543), taxiing at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 15Jul15 with special "Copa America Chile 2015" sticker.  (Phil Perry Photo)   

For the full list of 39 aircraft that wore the sticker, visit the following Gacena Aeronautica webpage and scroll about a third of the way down the page:

http://www.gacetaeronautica.com/gaceta/wp-101/?p=12371       

View the following YouTube video of the sticker being applied to a LAN 767-300:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrUYKj6XlFQ

ROUTE UPDATE: LAN to operate two round-trip charters from Montevideo (MVD) to La Serena (LSC) Chile

LAN is scheduled to operate two A320 charters between Montevideo (MVD) and La Serena (LSC) Chile in June 2015.  The passengers are apparently Uruguayan as the first flights are originating in Montevideo (MVD) on June 14 and 15 with the returns staggered a few days later on June 17 and 21. The reason for the charters appears to be some sort of an event, such as a rugby championship.

Source:       

http://airlineroute.net/2015/04/29/la-lscmvd-jun15/  via Eric Trum

ROUTE UPDATE: LAN Airlines has been flying the 787-9 between Santiago (SCL) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) since 01Apr15

LAN Airlines reportedly put the first two 787-9's that it has taken delivery of so far, CC-BGA (c/n 35317/259) on 05Feb15 and CC-BGB (c/n 35318/276) on 25Mar15, into service on 01Apr15 from Santiago (SCL) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and Lima (LIM), both routes with one daily round trip. Los Angeles (LAX) is due to start on 15Apr15 with Ezeiza flights being reduced to 3x/weekly in July. Additional routes for the 787-9 will include Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), Easter Island (IPC), New York Kennedy (JFK), Madrid (MAD), and Frankfurt (FRA) by the end of the year.   

Photos of CC-BGA and CC-BGB:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/LAN-Airlines/Boeing-787-9-Dreamliner/2600261/M/&sid=77b2727aec652a281e20c9510cc343e6

http://www.airliners.net/photo/LAN-Airlines/Boeing-787-9-Dreamliner/2606364/&sid=4ef29efc5f4491f8e8e2a7290cd518f9

Sources

www.flightstats.com

http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/LAN%20Airlines-active-b787.htm

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2015/avn150129/avn-150129.html

ROUTE UPDATES: COPA adds Montevideo (MVD) flights / Conviasa to fly A340's to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) / Amazonas adds Salta (SLA) - Tarija (TJA) / LAN adding Salta (SLA) - Iquique (IQQ)

* Conviasa - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Caracas (CCS)

Leasing an A340-300 from Air Asia X to operate on this route on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, effective mid-August 2014.  The aircraft will also be operated between Caracas (CCS) and Madrid (MAD). 

* Amaszonas - Salta (SLA) - Tarija (TJA) (Bolivia)

Amaszonas Linea Aerea of Bolivia to operate 50-seat Canadair CRJ-200's on the 35-minute flight between these two cities on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, effective 19Nov14. 

* COPA - Montevideo (MVD) - Panama City (PTY)

Increasing from 7 to 11 weekly flights on this route with the additional frequencies being operated by 737-800's on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, effective 06Dec14.  

* LAN - Salta (SLA) - Iquique (IQQ) (Chile)

Will resume summer seasonal service on this route from 03Jan15 - 28Feb15, possibly extending into March as they did in 2014.  Flights will be operated 2x/weekly (both on Saturdays) with A320's.

Sources:

http://airlineroute.net/2014/08/27/v0-ezemad-aug14/ via Eric Trum
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140904/avn-140904.html
http://airlineroute.net/2014/07/26/cm-w14update1/ via Eric Trum
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn141120/avn-141120.html

ROUTE UPDATE LAN replacing 787 with 767-300ER on Santiago (SCL) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE‏) Route

The worldwide fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft has been grounded due to battery fires on board two aircraft, the cause of which has not been determined yet, meaning that the possibility of fires on other aircraft remains a real danger.

Like other operators, LAN has grounded its three 787's until the problem has been defined which could be many months or even longer if the lithium ion batteries currently being used need to be replaced with more conventional batteries and the battery compartment needs to be redesigned, as well.

At the time of the grounding, LAN was flying the 787 from Lima (LIM) to Los Angeles (LAX) and Santiago (SCL) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) too.  The Chilean carrier is reportedly using the 767-300ER as the replacement aircraft on the latter route.   

Sources:  http://airlineroute.net/2013/01/18/787replacement-19jan13/
              http://www.planespotters.net/Airline/LAN-Airlines

ROUTE UPDATES: Airlines Increase & Introduce New Service to Montevideo (MVD) Replacing PLUNA

Several airlines have increased existing service or introduced new service from Montevideo (MVD) since PLUNA shut down in early July, including:

Austral Lineas Aereas 

New Service with Embraer 190 to:

Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP), 5x/day

BQB Lineas Aereas 

New Service with ATR-72-500 to:

Asuncion (ASU), 5x/week initially, later increased to daily

Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP), 2x/day

Florianopolis (FLN) starting in December

LAN

Increased Service with A319 to:

Santiago (SCL), from 2x/day to 3x/day

TAM

Increased Service with A320 to:

Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), from 2x to 3x/day

New Service with A320 to:

Rio de Janeiro (GIG), 1x/day

In addition, Gol is rumored to be considering increasing its MVD to GRU flights from 1x/day to 2x/day and starting daily MVD to GIG flights next year. 

Sources: Aviacion News
             El Pais Uruguay 27Oct12
             El Observador Uruguay 01Dec12
             www.flightstats.com
   

Cordoba Pajas Blancas Airport - Cargo Charter Visits

Cordoba, Argentina's international airport, Aeropuerto Internacional Ambrosio Taravella (COR), also known as Pajas Blancas, recently received visits from several interesting cargo charters not often seen at the central Argentina airport.  

The aircraft flew in from Brazil bringing car parts for Cordoba's automobile manufacturing plants, a couple of which had suspended production due to a lack of parts resulting from the Argentine national government's policy of restricting imports.

Aircraft spotted include:

27Oct12  Air Class Cargo Metro III, CX-LSS, all-white from Curitiba, Brazil  

27Oct12  Air Class Cargo 727-200F, CX-CAR, in full colors from Curitiba, Brazil

28Oct12  LAN Cargo 767-300F, N524LA, operated by ABSA Cargo from Brazil 
             The aircraft left to Tucuman (TUC) shortly thereafter to pick up a 
             load of blueberries, probably to the United States as LAN Cargo 
             has operated about a dozen blueberry charters annually from TUC 
             to the U.S. for at least a couple of years.   

The following link shows photos of the aircraft visiting COR:

http://aeropuertocordoba.blogspot.com.ar/

ROUTE UPDATES: Argentina & Uruguay Routes by Aerolineas Argentinas, BQB, Gol, TAM, LAN & AeroMexico

The following are among the more significant route changes to air service in Argentina and Uruguay recently:

Effective       Airline           Route                  Equip       Change

23Oct12       BQB             MVD-ASU           ATR-72     Increase from 5x to 7x/week, stop
                                                                                  3x/week in Salto, Uruguay (STY)             
26Oct12       TAM             GRU-MVD           A320         Increase from 2x to 3x/day
28Oct12       Gol               GIG-GRU-COR    737           New Service Daily        
15Nov12       TAM             GIG-MVD            A320         New Service Daily
01Dec12       LAN             SCL-MVD            A320         Increase from 2x to 3x/day 
01Dec12       Aerolineas     EZE-CUN            A340         Increase from 2x to 3x/week
                    Argentinas
15Dec12       AeroMexico   MEXEZE             767/777     Reduce from 10x to 7x/week
XXDec12      BQB             MVD-FLN            ATR-72      New Service 

The new and additional MVD service is mostly to replace the cancelled PLUNA service per Aviacion News. 

Sources: http://www.aviacionnews.com/blog/
              http://airlineroute.net/2012/10/11/ar-cun-dec12/  via Eric Trum
              http://airlineroute.net/2012/10/18/am-eze-dec12/ via Eric Trum
              http://www.elpais.com.uy/121019/ultmo-670670/ultimomomento/segun-diario-lopez-
              mena-ahora-quiere-instalarse-en-paraguay/
              http://www.elpais.com.uy/121027/pnacio-672211/nacional/bqb-suma-frecuencias-a-
              asuncion-y-florianopolis/

ROUTE UPDATE: LAN Started Scheduled 787 Service from Santiago to Buenos Aires Ezeiza on 01Oct12

LAN Airlines took delivery of its first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, CC-BBA, s/n 38471, on 01Sep12 and announced that it would put the new-generation airliner into service on 01Nov12.  However, the airline surprisingly operated its first regularly-scheduled revenue flight with the plane on Monday, O1Oct12, between Santiago (SCL) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), a month earlier than originally planned.  

The aircraft will be operated between Santiago and Buenos Aires for the next six months, at least initially on Mondays only, as the type is introduced into LAN's fleet.  LAN chose Buenos Aires as its first 787 destination because it is the carrier's closest international destination from Santiago of significance. During the first six months crews will be certified on the new type and the aircraft's performance will be closely monitored.

The next new route for the 787 will be Lima (LIM) - Los Angeles (LAX) and later Madrid (MAD) and Frankfurt (FRA). 

LAN's first 787 will be joined by its second and third examples in October and December, respectively, with two more expected in 2013 and all 32 on order scheduled to be delivered to the carrier by 2022.  

Source: Aviacion News 04Oct12

ROUTE UPDATE: LAN to introduce 787 on Santiago (SCL) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) route on November 1

Airline Route and World Airline News report that LAN Airlines will introduce their first Boeing 787-816, CC-BBA, into scheduled service on November 1 flying between Santiago (SCL) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE). This route will be followed soon thereafter by Santiago (SCL) - Lima (LIM) on November 4.

This will be the first use of the 787 in commercial service in South America.

LAN to take delivery of its first 787 on August 31

Flight Global reports that LAN Airlines will take delivery of its first 787, registration CC-BBA, on August 31.  Assembly of the aircraft was completed in late July. 

Photo of LAN 787-816, CC-BBA: www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?id=2148146

Boeing will hold a ceremony unveiling the 787 at its Everett, Washington production facility on August 30 with the plane departing for Santiago at about 5:00pm on August 31 and arriving in Chile at approx. 9:00am local time on September 1.

LAN will be the first airline in South America to take delivery of the 787 and fourth overall after ANA, Japan Airlines, and Ethiopian Airlines.  It has 32 787's on order, including 22 of the 787-8 model and 10 of the larger 787-9 model.     

The 787 will first see regularly-scheduled service between Santiago and Buenos Aires or Los Angeles.

Source:  www.flightglobal.com

ROUTE UPDATE: First LAN 787 Route will be Santiago - Buenos Aires by end of 2012

The Chilean aviation blog "En Vivo Desde SCL" reports that LAN's first 787-8 is nearing completion at Boeing's Everett, Washington factory and could be delivered to the airline as soon as August, even though officially it is not due until October. 

The Chilean carrier announced in March that the first cities to see 787 service would be its Santiago and Lima hubs plus Buenos Aires, Madrid, Los Angeles and Frankfurt.  However, specific route information was recently announced including Santiago (SCL) - Madrid (MAD) and Santiago (SCL) - Lima (LIM) - Los Angeles (LAX) but the very first service will be the intraregional route of Santiago (SCL) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), presumably to integrate the new type into LAN's fleet on a route close to its home base before it starts flying the other two longer-distance routes which are also transoceanic in nature.  So Buenos Aires should see its first 787 service before the end of 2012 ! 

Source: En Vivo Desde SCL http://envivodesdescl.blogspot.com

ROUTE UPDATE: LAN to fly 787 to Buenos Aires

Catching up on some news from late March, LAN Airlines announced that the first cities it will introduce 787 service on will be Santiago and/or Lima to Buenos Aires - Ezeiza (EZE), Los Angeles, Madrid and Frankfurt.

The multinational carrier with parent company based in Chile plans to take delivery of its first two 787's of a 32-aircraft order later this year with three more examples to be delivered in 2013.  The remainder will be delivered by 2018.   LAN will be the first Latin American carrier to take delivery of the 787.

Source: www.aviacionnews.com