The restructuring process continues for LATAM. Earlier this week, the airline filed a request with the bankruptcy court for the sale of nine LATAM Brazil Boeing 767-300ERs. The aircraft were delivered to LAN just on the cusp of the merger with TAM, and are all under ten years old.
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Conversions and sales
Struggling LATAM Airlines continues to downsize its fleet across the group as the carrier's bankruptcy protection has been extended to late September. Having previously converted several Boeing 767s into freighters, the airline is now reportedly looking to sell an additional nine of the type.
The Boeing 767-300ER is one of the most prevalent widebody aircraft models in LATAM's fleet. Over the whole group, LATAM still has 24 passenger units, along with 11 cargo versions. Seven of the type have exited the fleet since the beginning of the crisis in March 2020.
Now, the airline has filed a request with the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York for the authorization of the sale of another nine. According to ch-aviation, the units involved are:
- PT-MOB
- PT-MOC
- PT-MSS
- PT-MOA
- PT-MOE
- PT-MOF
- PT-MSW
- PT-MSX
- PT-MSZ
Less than a decade old fleet
These are the youngest of LATAM's overall 767 fleet. The newest, PT-MOF, is just over eight years. The oldest, PT-MOD, is just over nine. They were all delivered to LAN Chile and part of the merger with TAM in 2012, and are registered with LATAM Linhas Aéreas, the Brazilian branch of the group.
Other 767s, such as the 15 registered with LATAM Airlines Chile, are between ten and 15 years old. Meanwhile, the airline recently said goodbye to its leased Airbus A350s after only six years of operations.
Should LATAM receive permission from the court, the prospective buyer is Jetran, a company that specializes in a wide range of products ranging from aircraft financing to engine modifications. LATAM is including the 767s General Electric GE CF6 engines in the deal.
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Potential conversions?
What Jetran wishes to do with the nine widebodies is still unclear. The company already owns one of the type, a 33-year old 767 acquired from American Airlines. The airline withdrew the plane from use in September 2015 and it has been stored at Roswell Industrial Air Center ever since. The aircraft, registered as N360AA, officially changed hands in August 2020.
While Jetran has secured a commitment from Brisbane-based Alliance Airlines for the carrier to take 16 former American Airlines' Embraer E190s, ranging between 12 and 14 years old, the second-hand widebody market is not looking too hot at the moment. Potentially, the less-than-decade old LATAM 767s could be converted into freighters. If so, they might possibly return to LATAM, aiming to increase its cargo fleet of 767s with ten aircraft by 2023.