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TAM Airlines (TAM Linhas Aereas) (Sao Paulo), Airbus’ biggest customer in the southern hemisphere and Brazil’s largest airline company, announced an order for 20 new Airbus A320 Family and five A350-900 aircraft, bringing the Brazilian airline’s total Airbus orders to 176 aircraft, including 134 A320 Family, 15 A330-200s and 27 A350 XWB aircraft. The Memorandum of Understanding outlining the order was signed during the ILA Air Show in Berlin.
The new A350-900 aircraft will be powered by Rolls Royce engines. TAM is yet to select engines for the new 20 A320 Family aircraft. The airline currently operates its existing fleet of A320 Family with both CFM and IAE engines.
TAM’s incremental A320 Family aircraft order will, in accordance with the airline’s fleet plan, replace existing A320 Family aircraft as part of their commitment to keep an average fleet age of six years. Both the A320 Family and A350 XWBs fleet will serve the carrier’s existing routes.