Spotlight
TAME takes first long-haul steps
While this is not the first time Noticias writes about TAME, this article is about a very important “first” for the Ecuadorian flagship carrier. In the past, Noticias has written about TAME’s impressive fleet expansion over the last years, which took them to operating a current fleet of nine A320 Family aircraft. Noticias has also mentioned how TAME has leveraged the numerous capabilities of the A319 and the A320 to open Ecuador’s frontiers and link the country’s main capital cities with destinations such as Sao Paulo, Bogota or Buenos Aires among other international destinations. However, now it is time to talk about a new chapter for the airline. TAME has added New York City to a growing network list of new destinations and they are doing it with a whole different animal – an A330-200.
TAME flew its first commercial flight with an A330-200 from Guayaquil to New York on November 22, marking the carrier’s launch into twin-aisle operations and setting a milestone in the country’s aviation history. The new connection is intended to further connect the huge Ecuadorian population based in New York City and in other parts of the northeastern United States to their home country.
The A330-200 is configured with a two-class cabin, featuring 27 First class seats and 251 Economy class, seating a total of 278 passengers. With a 233t MTOW (maximum take off weight), TAME’s A330-200 has the capability to link all of the Americas from Quito’s new international airport, while providing full range capability to western Europe’s main destinations from TAME’s Guayaquil base. The A330 cabin does not only provide true long-haul comfort with 18-inch Economy class seats and full AVOD (audio-video on demand), but a cargo hold able to carry up to 15 tonnes of cargo, allowing the airline to increase their export activities.
The A330 will be connecting Guayaquil and New York City six times a week with a daily flight during peak seasons, confirming the airline’s commitment to stimulate traffic, tourism and business well passed Ecuador’s borders.
And thanks to the operational commonality between the A320 Family and the A330, TAME will enjoy more efficient operations overall, clearly demonstrating that its decision to grow go along with their objectives of bringing technical innovation to their airline.