Airlines

LATAM Group to add 10 Boeing 767-300 BCF

LATAM Group to add 10 Boeing 767-300 BCF: Over the course of the next three years, the LATAM Group announced that its freight fleet development would be expanded, which will now include 10 Boeing 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF). By 2023, the fleet will go up to 21 cargo carriers. In December 2021, the service of the first aircraft is scheduled.

Initially, four firm conversion orders with Boeing and four more conversion options were included in the Group’s freighter Fleet development strategy. LATAM exercised the 4 options, 8 planes, and 2 more Boeing 767-300ERs two months after the initial announcement. That means that by the end of 2023, up to 21 aircraft will be in the freighting fleet. Once the plan is over, its cargo capacity has almost doubled as well as the average fleet age will also be decreased from 17 to 14.

With the growth of 11 to 21 freight carrier systems, the cargo subsidiaries of the LATAM Group will be able to extend, strengthen and place the Group as the main freight carrier group in Latin America. The first 8 aircraft were assigned to critical markets for main customer segments.

In the first quarter of 2021, freight revenue for LATAM increased by 36.8 percent to $345.2 million for airliners. In March, LATAM announced that up to eight 767 will be converted to cargo in order to protect this market.

Although all the converted freight aircraft will be received by LATAM, the airline shall operate in a hybrid format with commercial aviation. For this sort of flight, the airline will use around 767-300ER.

It will remove the seats completely from three aircraft that allow up to 46 tons of payload per flight. There are currently two such aircraft operating. In the next few months, the third will be available.

“In general terms, the majority of the plan focuses on improving connectivity between North and South America. In particular, capacity from Colombia and Ecuador will be strengthened to support the flower export industry. Additional flights to support Chilean salmon exports as well as import traffic into the country will also be reinforced. Capacity to and from Brazil will also go up as we add routes from North America and Europe, boosting both the export and import markets”, said Kamal Hadad, LATAM Cargo’s Network and Alliances Director.

Hadad added that the freighter fleet flexibility will help LATAM assess a range of options. “For example, the two additional conversions could be used to refresh the current fleet or to begin new growth projects. The Group still has time to make the relevant decisions,” he concluded.

Related Topics:767 767-300 airbus Boeing latam

Airlines

A Costly Mistake: Passenger Pays for Fuel After Disruptive Flight

A Western Australian man has learned a costly lesson after his unruly behavior on a flight resulted in the aircraft having to turn back. The passenger was ordered to pay over $5,000 in fuel costs, along with a significant fine, for causing the plane to divert.

The incident occurred in September 2023 when the man, who was not publicly named, became disruptive on a flight from Perth to Sydney. Due to his behavior, the pilot was forced to turn the plane around and return to Perth, which required dumping fuel to land safely.

The passenger pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly behavior and non-compliance with safety instructions. As a result, he was ordered to pay $8,630 to the airline to cover the cost of the wasted fuel and was also fined $6,055. This combined penalty of over $11,000 is a stark reminder of the severe consequences of disruptive behavior on flights.

While this is not a typical punishment, other cases of in-flight misconduct have resulted in hefty fines. One passenger in the United States was fined over $40,000 for a series of offenses, including bringing their own alcohol on board, being intoxicated, attempting to smoke marijuana, and sexually assaulting a flight attendant.

The Australian Federal Police emphasized that disruptive behavior on flights will not be tolerated. They warned that individuals who cause disturbances can face significant financial penalties and legal consequences. The case of the Western Australian passenger serves as a clear message that obeying airline staff and adhering to safety regulations is essential for a smooth and safe flight.