Avianca Brasil (São Paulo Congonhas) has taken delivery of its maiden A320neo, PR-OBD (cn 7175), following a ferry flight from Toulouse Blagnac to Porto Alegre International via Sal Amilcar Cabral International earlier this week.

Powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines, the aircraft is one of eight the Avianca (Bogotá) affiliate is leasing from GECAS. Deliveries are scheduled to run from now through 2017.

Airline president Frederico Pedreira has said the type's maiden route will be the Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont-São Paulo Congonhas shuttle which at present, the A320ceo cannot fly owing to operational restrictions.

During this year's Paris Airshow, the carrier's owner, Synergy Aerospace Corporation, finalized a Purchase Agreement with Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) for sixty-two A320neo Family aircraft. The jets will be used to replace Avianca Brasil's fleet which currently entails fifteen A318-100s, four A319-100s, twenty-eight A320-200s, one A330-200F, and four A330-200s (awaiting delivery).