Why LATAM retired its entire A350s fleet?

Why LATAM retired its entire A350s fleet? : LATAM Airline Group plans to retires its entire fleet of A350s immediately. LATAM is one of the largest airline in Latin America with fleet size of 303 aircraft.

LATAM Airline Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States on May 26, 2020 due to economic problem by impact of the Covid-19 and in September 2019, Delta bought 20% stake in LATAM Airline for $1.9 billion. In January 2020, LATAM announced its leaves Oneworld alliance.

Read More: Delta Air Lines to Take 20% Stake in LATAM Airlines for $1.9 Billion

The airline originally ordered 22 A350s but half of those order cancelled in 2020, Delta committed to buy the A350 but later backed out and paid $62 million to undo the deal. LATAM have 11 A350s and its fleet’s average age is just 3.2 Years, according to Planespotters.net.

After this announcement of retiring its A350s, the LATAM will operate Boeing aircraft on all long haul routes. LATAM Brazil have 10 B777-300ER with average age of 10 years and 13 B767-300ER with average age of 8.4 years.

Read More: LATAM Intends To Leave The oneworld Alliance

Instead of selling the older Boeing aircraft, LATAM came with a solution by returning its newest A350s to lessors under bankruptcy settlements.

Read More: Delta’s 777 aircraft to retire by end of 2020, simplifying widebody fleet amid COVID-19