Boeing and LAN Airlines, one of Latin America’s leading passenger and cargo carriers, celebrated the delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner to LAN making it the first airline in the Americas to receive the new airplane.

LAN is only the fourth customer in the world to include the Boeing 787 in its fleet with 32 of this new aircraft on order and lease.

LAN’s top executives, Boeing representatives and authorities celebrated the delivery at an event at the Future of Flight Aviation Center in Mukilteo, Washington, near Boeing’s 787 final assembly factory in Everett.

“We are delighted to receive this airplane. This is a landmark moment not just for LAN, but for all our passengers in Latin America and other countries the 787 will operate to/from,” said Ignacio Cueto, CEO of LAN Airlines, stressing the importance of this delivery for LAN. “Thanks to this aircraft, we will be able to operate longer routes using a plane that is more environmentally-friendly and is highly efficient, which will ensure that LAN will be able to move forward through sustainable growth. Above all, the special features of the 787 will allow us to further improve the travel experience for our passengers.”

The 787 Dreamliner is composed of light-weight composites and features numerous systems, engine and aerodynamic advancements making it more efficient to operate compared with its competition. It is the first mid-sized airplane capable of flying long-range routes, enabling airlines to open new, non-stop routes preferred by passengers.

“LAN has clearly become the leader in aviation in Latin America and across the globe due to its strong leadership, unrivaled customer service, and commitment to technology and innovation,” said Van Rex Gallard, vice president of Sales for Latin America, Africa, & Caribbean, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The addition of the 787 to the LAN fleet will help it maintain that leadership edge by increasing its global presence and bringing a new and exciting flying experience to more passengers in more locations around the world.”

The first cities that LAN’s fleet of 787s will fly to are Santiago, Buenos Aires, Lima, Los Angeles, Madrid and Frankfurt. The aircraft will begin to fly commercially in the next few months, and these routes will be added gradually during its first year of operation.

Boeing press release