Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group and president of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), has issued a new call to engine manufacturers to accelerate solutions for the durability issues affecting the industry.
During the opening press conference of the ALTA AGM & Airline Leaders Forum taking place in Lima, in which Aviacionline participated, Alvo highlighted the severity of the situation that has left hundreds of aircraft out of service.
«It is a reality that we generally face with different fleets and, in various cases, still significant engine durability challenges,» stated Alvo. The executive estimated the global impact of these problems at «nearly 600 grounded aircraft in the world today.» This situation occurs at a critical time, just as the industry is recovering from the pandemic and the growth prospects in the region are positive.
The problem primarily affects the engine families that power the Airbus A320neo, Boeing 737, and Embraer E-Jets E2, as well as other long-haul aircraft, limiting the airlines’ ability to respond to growing passenger demand. Alvo emphasized the frustration of the airlines, which see their multi-million dollar investments paralyzed.
«This ends up being an important matter,» Alvo continued, acknowledging the work already being done by the manufacturers. However, he considered it a «good opportunity to call for an intensification of those efforts.» The goal, in his words, is «so that we can make the most of the large investments we airlines make in aircraft and keep these planes flying.»..
