Airbus delivers first A330 Freighter in the Americas to Tampa Cargo

Tampa Cargo, AviancaTaca Holding’s cargo airline based in Colombia, has taken delivery of the first of four new A330 Freighter (A330-200F) aircraft at Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France. The aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 772B engines. The new aircraft is part of the airline’s fleet renewal strategy and will allow Tampa to expand its presence in new and existing international markets, including Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, the United States and Uruguay.

“We are confident in the A330-200F’s proven advanced technology, eco-efficiency and range,” said Fabio Villegas, CEO of AviancaTaca. “Tampa Cargo looks forward to growing its cargo business and serving our customers in the Americas by partnering with Airbus and integrating the first A330-200F into its fleet.”

“With the capacity and range to profitably serve the growing cargo markets of Latin America, the A330-200F flies more payload significantly further while offering lower cost-per-tonne than its nearest competitor,” said John Leahy, Airbus’ Chief Operating Officer - Customers. “Airbus is pleased that Tampa Cargo will be the first in the region to benefit from the exceptional economics that the A330-200F offers.”

Notable economic benefits for Tampa Cargo include operational commonality with the A330-200 passenger aircraft of which the airline has ordered 10 aircraft. Benefiting from the technical superiority, its outstanding operational reliability and the success of the passenger version, the A330-200F is the world’s most modern mid-size freighter which can carry 70 tonnes of payload, with a range capability of up to 4,000nm. This will allow the airline to serve both regional and intercontinental destinations.

In the current market situation with fluctuating demand and dominated by old and less fuel efficient large aircraft, the mid-size freighter A330-200F is the clear way to secure sustained profitability. To date, 15 of these A330 freighters are flying with six operators worldwide.

AviancaTaca has purchased a total of 190 Airbus aircraft and has a backlog of almost 80 aircraft. Overall Airbus has sold more than 750 aircraft throughout Latin America and the Caribbean and currently holds a backlog that exceeds 370. In the last 10 years, Airbus tripled its in-service fleet in the region, while delivering more than 60 percent of all aircraft operating there.

The Airbus Foundation, AviancaTaca and Tampa Cargo seized this delivery to ship teddy bears as part of a charitable Christmas initiative. Destined to bring smiles to underprivileged children in Colombia, the more than 1000 stuffed toys were donated by Airbus employees from France, Germany and the UK with help from Aviation Sans Frontières, an Airbus Foundation partner for the past four years.