Airbus is showcasing its biggest stars together at the FIDAE Air Show (Feria Internacional del Aire y del Espacio) in Santiago, Chile. Both the iconic A380 and the new generation airlifter A400M will be in static display and conduct flight demonstrations at Latin America’s most important air show.
The Airbus Filton plant has a strong stake in both aircraft having designed and part built the A380 wings and other components as well as designing and building the wings of the military transporter A400M.
The A380’s participation at FIDAE is part of the aircraft’s Latin American Tour, which will include stops in Brazil (Sao Paulo on March 22 and Rio de Janeiro on March 23) and Argentina, (Buenos Aires on March 30) before returning to Toulouse. The aircraft will stay in Santiago de Chile for FIDAE between March 26 and 29.
“Airbus has been participating in FIDAE for nearly 30 years because it is the most important venue in Latin America to showcase the latest Airbus technology,” said Rafael Alonso, executive vice president of Airbus for Latin America and the Caribbean. “With Latin American air traffic expected to triple in the next 20 years, Airbus estimates the region will require more than 40 very large aircraft, like the A380, between today and 2030. Bringing the A380 to the region has never been more relevant because it is not a question of when the A380 will begin to operate here, but rather what airline will be the first to fly it.”
He added that with 138 airports visited worldwide, the A380 has proven it can be operated in existing airport infrastructure with no or little modifications. Today some 30 airports worldwide see A380 daily operations. In addition to these, more than 50 airports are ready or getting prepared to accommodate the A380 and answer the airlines’ need for more A380 destinations.
Airbus says the A380 is the world’s largest, most comfortable and eco-efficient passenger aircraft and that more than 70 A380s have been delivered already to seven customers from a firm order book of 253 aircraft from 19 customers.
Meanwhile the A400M in the form of Grizzly 2, one of the five flight test aircraft, will arrive at FIDAE on March 26 and will stay at the show,in the static display, for a couple of days before flying to Lima, Peru for a visit. Indeed, the A400M will be in Latin America until April 1 and, as part of the A400M Flight Test Campaign, it will perform High Altitude testing in Bolivia (Cochabamba and La Paz).
“Latin America is of strategic importance for Airbus Military and FIDAE is a key platform. The presence of the A400M shows how important this event is for our company”, said Antonio Rodriguez Barberán, head of commercial of Airbus Military.
