Chilean flag carrier LanChile took delivery of its first A319 from Airbus. The airline already successfully operates a fleet of 14 A320s and four A340s. The arrival of the A319 at the carrier's base in Santiago represents a further step in LanChile's fleet modernisation plans. The A319 will replace the 737-200 and will be deployed on short-haul and regional routes. A second A319 is due for delivery before the end of the year.

Powered by V2500-A5 engines from International Aero Engines, the A319s will be configured in a comfortable single-class configuration seating 136 passengers. The A319 is part of the A320 Family and benefits from the operational commonality that has become Airbus' trademark.

Airbus' A320 Family features the most modern design with the widest and most comfortable cabin in its class. It is a firm favourite with passengers, invariably coming top in independent surveys, as well as consistently leading in financial and operator polls. With its low maintenance costs, proven high residual value and superior revenue generating features, the A320 Family offers a great economic performance. The best–selling Airbus A320 Family comes in four different sizes - the 107-seat A318, 124-seat A319, 150-seat A320 and 185-seat A321. All of them share the same airframe – only the fuselage lengths are different – plus the same cockpits, systems and handling qualities, delivering unmatched operational commonality and savings to airlines.

Firm orders for the A320 Family now exceed 3,000, of which more than 2,000 have been delivered to more than 120 operators around the world.

A leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive product line on the market, Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain as well as subsidiaries in the U.S., China and Japan. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS joint Company with BAE Systems.

More...