Aerolineas eyes 15 787s with near-term delivery slots

Aerolineas Argentinas is considering acquiring 15 Boeing 787s with deliveries beginning as early as 2011 as part of a new tender which also seeks bids for up to 40 narrowbody aircraft.The carrier's chief commercial officer, Juan Pablo Lafosse, reveals Aerolineas "is in the process of issuing requests for proposals" for new aircraft that meet narrowbody and widebody requirements outlined in its recently revised fleet plan. He says the airline, which now operates five Airbus A340s and two 747s, is considering 787s and A330s but not A350s for the widebody requirement. 
Aerolineas has been looking for new widebodies since the carrier was renationalised in late 2008. For several months last year the carrier was considering taking over part of the 61-aircraft Airbus widebody order placed in 2008 by former owner Marsans. In October 2009 Lafosse told, that the Argentinean government was negotiating with Marsans and Airbus over inheriting 13 A330/A340s from this order, but that as an alternative the carrier was also looking at leasing six A330s and seven A340s. Over the last couple of months, however, efforts to take over part of the Marsans order have since been dropped altogether. Meanwhile, Aerolineas also has widened its widebody evaluation to consider the 787. 
Lafosse tells, there are two scenarios now under consideration. The first envisions transitioning to a widebody fleet consisting entirely of 787 family aircraft but also acquiring at least two additional A330/A340s to support near-term expansion until 787s are available. Lafosse is confident Aerolineas could "transition to a 787 fleet starting one and a half or two years from now", claiming that "there are positions from lessors" in this timeframe. The second scenario envisions replacing all of Aerolineas' seven active widebodies with new A330/A340s as well as acquiring eight additional A330/A340s for growth. Lafosse says Aerolineas is "not yet" considering A350s.
source: flightglobal.com