Plane purchase

Chile's LAN Airlines has purchased thirty-two Boeing 787 Dreamliners, marking the largest 787 acquisition to date for a Latin American airline.

The Santiago-based carrier has ordered twenty six airplanes from Boeing, and will lease an additional six 787-9s from International Lease Finance.

In addition to the Dreamliner order, Boeing said LAN also has committed to acquiring four 777 Freighters - two from Boeing and two to be leased from GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS).

The order for twenty six Dreamliners, consisting of a mix of 787-8s and 787-9s, is worth approximately $4.5bn at published list prices. The two 777 Freighters are valued at approximately $500m.

The two direct-purchase 777 Freighters were previously attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing's orders and deliveries web site.

So far, two other Latin American carriers have committed to the 787 Dreamliner: Aeromexico, with three leased, two purchased, and Colombia's Avianca, which has ordered ten.

The 777 Freighter is the sixth and newest member of the 777 family of aeroplanes. Eleven Boeing customers have ordered eighty two 777 Freighters, which are scheduled to enter service in the fourth quarter of 2008.