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Avianca firms up order for 100 Airbus narrowbodies

Ben Mutzabaugh
USA TODAY

Colombian carrier Avianca has firmed up a deal for 100 jets from Airbus' A320neo family of aircraft.

The two sides had signed a memorandum of understanding for the deal in February, but made the order firm on Tuesday. Airbus described the order as "the largest single order ever made in Latin America's aviation history."

The order will include Airbus' 319neo, A320neo and A321neo models. Avianca says it plans to use the new narrowbody jets replace airplanes currently operating from its hubs in Bogota, Lima and San Salvador.

"This historic order allows us to solidify our passenger experience strategy in local markets on a broader scale," Avianca CEO Fabio Villegas Ramirez says in a statement. "Thanks to the A320neo Family's fuel efficiency, technical reliability and unique passenger comfort, we can further Avianca's fleet modernization process, while connecting the region and supporting its development."

"For over 15 years, Avianca has benefitted from the excellent operating economics and award-winning reliability of the A320 Family," adds Airbus sales chief John Leahy. "The A320neo brings Avianca the highest efficiency at the lowest cost, making it ideally suited to operate within their network and especially within the region's challenging airports."

Avianca closed on a merger with El Salvador's TACA Airlines in 2013, cementing its status as one of the top Latin American carriers. It is a member of the Star Alliance frequent-flier group, whose North American members include United and Air Canada.

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