Avianca Brazil accelerates expansion as ex-LAN A318s and new A320s are added to fleet

Avianca Brazil is accelerating expansion as the carrier aims to regain market share in Brazil's fast-growing domestic sector. Avianca Brazil, previously known as OceanAir, now plans to end 2011 with 26 aircraft, up from only 17 aircraft at the start of the year. At least another five aircraft will be added next year as Avianca Brazil has emerged as the unlikely new home for the 15 A318s exiting the fleet of rival Latin American airline group LAN.

Avianca Brazil president Jose Efromovich told CAPA at the sidelines of the ALTA Airline Leaders Forum earlier this month that the carrier has agreed to acquire all 15 of the A318s exiting LAN's fleet. Mr Efromovich says five of the A318s have already been delivered to Avianca Brazil while five more will be delivered in 2012 and the final five aircraft will be come in 2013.

The 15 A318s are being remarketed by Airbus as LAN returns the aircraft in exchange for larger A320 family aircraft. Airbus was expected to have a very hard time finding new homes for the aircraft given the unpopularity of the A318 and the fact the LAN examples are powered by PW6000 engines - an engine type engine unique to LAN's A318s.