TACA, one of the most important airlines in Latin America, has signed a firm contract for the purchase of 14 additional Single Aisle Airbus aircraft including for the first time the A321 in Latin America.

With this incremental order, the total of Airbus aircraft that remains to be delivered to TACA increases from 12 to 26 units (five A319s, 16 A320s and five A321s). Deliveries of these 26 aircraft will take place between April 2005 and September 2009.

TACA already successfully operates a fleet of 32 Airbus aircraft (eight A319s and 24 A320s) serving the whole American Continent from Canada in the North to Argentina and Chile in the South.

"The Airbus A320 Family is for us the ideal mix in terms of performance, reliability, flexibility, great economics whilst providing our passengers with the highest level of comfort," said Roberto Kriete, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TACA. "With the A321, we look forward to making another major step in unit cost reduction, which will further sharpen our competitive edge."

TACA will be the first airline in Latin America to operate the A321 as of September 2005. The A321 will seat up to 186 passengers in a two-class configuration and will offer the lowest operating costs per seat in its class. As a member of the Airbus A320 Family, the A321 will enable TACA to use the same pilots, cabin crew and maintenance facilities as for its 120 seat A319s and 150 seat A320s.

The Airbus A320 Family has sold nearly 3300 aircraft to over 140 customers and operators around the world.