Airbus Press Centre - press release

Ecuadorian state-owned flag-carrier TAME took delivery today of the first of

two new A320 aircraft as part of a ceremony held in Toulouse, Southwestern France.

A second Airbus single-aisle A320 will also be delivered to TAME next September

12

^th, 2003. These two new aircraft are part of an operating lease agreement with

GATX Air.

TAME will operate its two new A320s on non-stop routes over its regional and

international network, gradually replacing its ageing Boeing 727 fleet. They will

start direct non-stop service from Quito to Guayaquil and the Galapagos natural

reserve.

TAME?s new A320s will be powered by International Aero Engines (IAE) V2527E-A5

type, particularly designed for high altitude take offs and landings.  

TAME? A320s feature a luxurious seating for 162 passengers in a spacious single

class layout. Airbus single-aisle aircraft have the widest cabin cross section,

thus offering wider seats and a wider aisle for the best cabin comfort in its

class. Furthermore, the A320 Family offers the biggest overhead bins in single-aisle

aircraft for a more convenient storage of modern roll-aboard luggage.

Designed to optimise passenger comfort and maximise cost savings, the A318, A319,

A320 and A321 form the world?s most profitable and best-selling single-aisle aircraft

Family. The Family is in widespread service around the world with some 120 customers

and operators, including a majority of airlines in Central and South America.

This choice in favour of the A320 underlines the attractiveness of Airbus aircraft

as a winning long-term investment. Independent market surveys have repeatedly

placed the Airbus A320 Family as the aircraft family with the highest residual

value.

A leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive product

line on the market, Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities

in France, Germany, the UK and Spain as well as subsidiaries in the U.S., China

and Japan. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS joint Company

with BAE SYSTEMS.