LAN added five freighters to cargo fleet

LAN added five freighters to cargo fleet    Chile’s flagship air carrier LAN Airlines said last week it will lease three Boeing 767-300 freighters and purchase two 777 freighters to help its cargo fleet keep pace with growing regional demand, according to a report by Dow Jones Newswires.
   LAN is in a merger process with Brazilian carrier TAM, a deal expected to be complete between April and June and one that would make the new merged entity (Latam Airlines Group) the biggest carrier in the region and one of the top 15 globally.
   The first of the 767-300 freighters arrived at the beginning of November, with the other due to come in December and January. The two purchased 777F aircraft are due to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2012, the company said. That would give LAN's cargo unit and its subsidiaries 12 767 freighters and four 777 freighters by the end of 2012.
   The Chilean carrier said it expects its cargo business to grow 20 percent in 2010 and by 13 percent to 15 percent in 2011.
   LAN is in the midst of a $7.7 billion investment plan through 2018, in which the carrier aims to increase its total fleet from 96 planes in 2009 to 176 in 2018.