Avianca selects the boeing 787 as its only widebody passenger aircraft, simplifying its long-haul fleet
- The Boeing 787 will be Avianca’s single aircraft type for long-haul flights within the Americas and to Europe.
- The Dreamliner’s leading-edge technology offers best-in-class fuel efficiency, greater operational capabilities, and increased cargo capacity while increasing passenger comfort.
Bogota, October 21, 2021. Avianca confirms that it will operate the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft as its only widebody aircraft type for long haul flights, supporting the airline’s current and future route and capacity needs and driving efficiency and profitability with a reduced environmental footprint.
“One of Avianca’s strategic objectives is simplifying its fleet while increasing efficiency; selecting the 787-8 as the airline’s single aircraft type for long-haul flights is an important step towards this goal. Thanks to open and constructive dialogues with Boeing, Rolls-Royce, lessors and financial institutions, we are proud to be able to confirm that we will continue to fly the Dreamliner, an exceptional aircraft that given its capabilities, features, efficiency, and comfort is the best solution for our company and our customers. We expect to retain our lie-flat business class seats, targeting our loyal business customers, while redesigning the rest of the cabin with latest-generation seats over the next 18 months.” said Rohit Philip, Chief Financial Officer of Avianca.
The main benefits to Avianca of the 787-8 as its passenger widebody solution are:
- Future-Proofing: the aircraft remains a leading-edge platform, providing Avianca with a long-term solution to its long-haul fleet needs.
- Passenger comfort: the 787’s design provides enhanced cabin pressure levels and less-dry air, improving the passenger experience for long-haul flights.
- Reduced environmental footprint: the Dreamliner’s technology allows it achieve longer range while consuming 20% less fuel and generating significantly reduced CO2 emissions versus previous-generation aircraft.
- Improved financial results: the aircraft provides increased cargo payload, higher fuel efficiency and greater seating capacity, significantly improving the widebody fleet’s contribution to Avianca’s bottom line.
Ewen McDonald, Chief Customer Officer, Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace, said: “Throughout the pandemic we have done all we can to support our customers as they manage the impact of Covid-19 on their organizations, working closely with them to find solutions to the challenges faced. We are delighted with Avianca’s decision to retain the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 powered 787 aircraft and look forward to working with Avianca for many more years ahead.”
"We would like to thank Avianca for their ongoing commitment to the 787 Dreamliner. The aircraft, and its leading economic and environmental performance, will serve Avianca well as they grow during the market recovery ahead," said Ricardo Cavero, vice president of sales, Latin America & the Caribbean, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
About Avianca’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
The 787 is considered one of the aircraft with the most advanced aviation technology available; it has dynamic lighting based on LEDs for each moment of the flight, larger windows, larger overhead bins for carry-on baggage, lower levels of interior noise and reduced CO2 emissions due to the technology of its engines. A lower pressurization altitude for the cabin is one of its outstanding features, helping customers to arrive well-rested and with humidity settings that avoid dryness and discomfort for eyes and body.
About Avianca Holdings S.A.:
Avianca is the commercial brand that integrates the passenger and cargo transportation airlines grouped under Avianca Holdings S.A. Currently, Avianca offers its clients one of the most robust networks in Latin America with 100 routes, more than 2,680 weekly flights and close to 400,000 weekly seats.