TAM to operate Sao Paulo-New York JFK route with Airbus A350-900

Brazil’s leading carrier TAM Airlines has decided to deploy Airbus A350-900 aircrafts for operating flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) starting from July 23, 2016. The roundtrip flights on the route will initially be operated thrice weekly, but will later on convert to a daily service.

TAM Airlines, which along with its sister carrier LAN Airlines form a part of the LATAM Airlines Group, has also announced that it will operate flights between São Paulo and Orlando with the help of its Airbus A350-900 aircraft from July this year as well.

Each of the airline’s A350-900 aircraft is configured in two classes – Premium Business Class and Economy Class – with a total capacity to seat 348 passengers. The customers traveling in Premium Business Class would be offered 30 seats, which reclines 180 degrees to be finally converted to full flat beds. The economy class cabin will have a capacity to accommodate 318 passengers. The airline already possesses three Airbus A350-900 aircrafts.

Media reports said that TAM Airlines will be receiving its fourth Airbus A350-900 aircraft, whose delivery is scheduled in June this year. The fourth A350-900 aircraft will however be configured in three classes, with the addition of a third cabin. The new cabin being added will be Economy Plus, and promises to offer more legroom to the customers. The aircraft will offer 30 Premium Business Class seats, 63 Economy Plus seats and 246 Economy Class seats. The airline is expecting to acquire six Airbus A350-900 aircrafts in 2016. According to the reports, TAM Airlines is also set to become the fourth airline in the world to operate Airbus A350 XWB aircrafts. The airline has ordered 27 Airbus A350 XWB aircrafts, all of which are expected to be delivered by 2021.

Pablo Chiozza, LATAM Airlines Group’s Senior Vice President, USA, Canada and Caribbean, said, “After taking the delivery of new Airbus A350 XWB aircrafts TAM Airlines would be delighted to offer an attractive and competitive option to customers traveling from New York to Brazil with further connectivity to the rest of South America.”