Leading Brazilian carrier TAM Linhas Aereas has firmed up its order for 22 A350XWBs and for four additional A330-200s. The airline based in Sao Paulo has furthermore added another 20 A320 Family aircraft to the initial order. TAM, Airbus' biggest customer in the southern hemisphere, now has the largest A350XWB fleet. This agreement raises the number of orders for the A350XWB to 314 aircraft.

With a fleet of 102 Airbus aircraft, including 15 A319s, 70 A320s, three A321s, twelve A330-200s and two A340-500s, TAM operates not only the largest Airbus fleet in Latin America, but also comprising the most Airbus models of any fleet in the region.

"Airbus aircraft help to build on our reputation of excellence through outstanding passenger comfort. The A350XWB will provide state of the art passenger comfort, while assuring lowest operating costs and low emissions. We add professionalism and know how," said David Barioni Neto, President of TAM, "The A350XWB will allow us to continue the successful expansion we have already achieved with our A330s and A320s."

"We are very proud to have TAM, one of the most internationally renowned airlines, as the launch customer for our new A350XWB programme in South America", said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. "This contract is a confirmation of the trust that TAM puts in our successful partnership. We cannot value this confidence highly enough, and are certain this repeat order will also further boost TAM's impressive development."

The A350XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) Family is Airbus' response to widespread market demand for a series of highly efficient medium-capacity long-range wide-body aircraft. The A350 has the widest fuselage in its category, offering unprecedented levels of comfort, the lowest operating costs and lowest seat mile cost of any aircraft in this market segment. Powered by two new generation Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines delivering each up to 92,000 lbs of thrust, the A350XWB Family is designed to confront the challenges of high fuel prices, rising passenger expectations, and environmental concerns.

The A330 is already the aircraft of choice for more than 60 customers and operators around the world and is the unquestioned leader in its class with a commanding market share and a continually expanding operator base. The A330 provides the operator with a significant competitive advantage in the market today through very low operating costs per seat, as well as the widest and most comfortable cabin in its category. TAM already operates twelve A330-200s on its international routes to New York, Miami, Madrid, Milan, Frankfurt, London and Paris.

The A320 Family is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. With over 5,800 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been sold, including 350 in Latin America, and over 3300 delivered to more than 200 operators worldwide, making it the worlds best selling commercial jetliner ever. With proven reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft.