LATAM Brazil chief says airline could add smaller Embraer, Airbus planes (updated)

LATAM Airlines

08/08/2024 24:03

(Updates with context, comment from CFO)
       SAO PAULO, Aug 7 (Reuters) - LATAM Airlines is weighing
the possibility of adding smaller aircraft to its fleet such as
Embraer's E2 and Airbus' A220, the firm's Brazil head said on
Wednesday.
    "We have mapped out what growth could look like with a
smaller (capacity) fleet," executive Jerome Cadier told
journalists. "And this smaller fleet could come from Embraer, it
could come from Airbus, and we're constantly looking for
alternatives to increase growth."
    Embraer's next-generation E2 jets and the Airbus A220
directly compete in the regional segment for up-to-150-seat
aircraft.
        Cadier said that the airline had been looking for other
options in order to add to its fleet since last year, with
Airbus and Boeing facing difficulties in delivering new aircraft
and with some planes grounded due to mandatory motor
inspections.
        Last month, the head of Brazil state development bank
BNDES said that both LATAM and carrier Gol  GOLL4.SA  were 
    in advanced talks
     to add Embraer aircraft to their fleets.
  
        In a separate call with journalists on Wednesday,
LATAM's Chief Financial Officer Ramiro Alfonsin said that
"nothing concrete" had been decided.
  

 (Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; Additional reporting by Kylie
Madry; Editing by Sarah Morland)
 ((Kylie.Madry@thomsonreuters.com;))