Category Archives: LATAM Airlines (Colombia)

LATAM Group continues to improve its connectivity, reaching 143 destinations in May

  • The group will reinforce connectivity from the hub in Peru with flights to Iguazú (Brazil) and Salta (Argentina).
  • LATAM Cargo received an important award for Innovation in Air Cargo for its plastic reduction projects in its operations.
  • In April 2023, passenger traffic (measured in revenue passenger-kilometers – RPK) increased by 26.2% compared to the same period in 2022, and operations measured in ASK (available seat-kilometers) grew by 29.6%

LATAM Group reported updates on its operations for the coming weeks, highlighting the 143 destinations to be operated in the month, which, compared to May 2022, results in an increase of 7%. Other relevant news of the month are the announcements on the following routes:

  • Lima – Iguazú, operated by LATAM Airlines Peru, with three flights a week from November 1.
  • Lima – Salta, operated by LATAM Airlines Peru, with three flights a week from December 2.
  • Fortaleza – Miami, operated by LATAM Airlines Brazil, will have two weekly flights starting July 28.
  • Santiago (Chile) – Los Ángeles, operated by LATAM Airlines Group, will have five weekly flights starting October 2.

At the same time, LATAM Cargo was distinguished by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) with the Air Cargo Innovation Award in the corporate category for its plastic reduction projects in its cargo operations in Chile and Brazil. These initiatives were designed by employees and are part of the group’s commitment to having zero waste to landfills by 2027.

Operational statistics for April 2023

In April 2023, passenger traffic (measured in revenue passenger-kilometers – RPK) increased by 26.2% compared to the same period in 2022, and operations measured in ASK (available seat-kilometers) increased by 29.6 %. This implied that the load factor decreased 2.1 percentage points, reaching 79.1%.

In cargo, the load factor was 53.5%, which corresponds to a decrease of 5.8 percentage points compared to April 2022.

The following table summarizes the operational statistics for the month and the accumulated to date for the main business units in LATAM:

LATAM adds its 17th cargo aircraft, a converted Boeing 767-300F

LATAM Airlines Cargo (Chile) Boeing 767-316F ER WL N534LA (msn 32572) (Avión Solidario) MIA (Antony J. Best). Image: 960268.

LATAM group delivered the news on its operation for the coming weeks, highlighting the following routes:

  • São Paulo/Guarulhos – Passo Fundo, operated by LATAM Airlines Brazil, with daily flights starting on March 28.
  • Bogota and Riohacha, operated by LATAM Airlines Colombia, with daily flights starting on March 28.

At the same time, LATAM Cargo received its 17th aircraft. It is a Boeing 767-300 converted from the passenger fleet and will reinforce its global fleet.

LATAM Group

Operational statistics for February 2023

In February 2023, passenger traffic (measured in revenue passenger-kilometers – RPK) grew 28.6% compared to the same period in 2022, and operations measured in ASK (available seat-kilometers) increased 25.3%. This implied that the load factor increased 2.1 percentage points, reaching 81.9%.

In cargo, the load factor was 52.8%, which corresponds to a decrease of 8.7 percentage points in relation to February 2022.

The following table summarizes the operational statistics for the month and the accumulated to date for the main business units in LATAM:

Top Copyright Photo: LATAM Airlines Cargo (Chile) Boeing 767-316F ER WL N534LA (msn 32572) (Avión Solidario) MIA (Antony J. Best). Image: 960268.

LATAM aircraft vphoto gallery (Chile):

LATAM AIrlines (Chile) aircraft photo gallery

LATAM closes 2022 with $2.3 billion in liquidity and and the group achieves an operational recovery close to pre-pandemic levels

LATAM Airlines Group S.A. has announced its financial results corresponding to the fourth quarter of 2022, closing a year marked by the completion of its restructuring proceeding under Chapter 11, a solid financial result and an operational recovery close to the pre-pandemic.

In relation to the pre-pandemic period, the group managed to reduce its gross debt by 37.5%, going from US$10.4 billion before Chapter 11 to US$6.5 billion at the end of last year, in turn increasing its liquidity by 78%, reaching US$2.3 billion compared to the period prior to the reorganization proceeding started in May 2020.

During the fourth quarter of last year, the group’s total revenues reached US$2.744 billion, which represents 37.5% more than the same period of 2021. As well, EBITDAR reached US$466.8 million in the quarter and LATAM recorded a net income attributable to the owners of the parent company of US$2,538 million as a result of the restructuring process.

“The results of 2022 show a strengthened group and more competitive than before the pandemic. During the year, LATAM Group made significant progress in different areas. The network was expanded through the alliance with Delta and new routes were launched, the cargo business was strengthened and the service for customers was improved. Progress was also made in the renewal of the fleet and the group took a leadership position in sustainability, which allows us to be optimistic about the future. LATAM Group has a competitive cost structure that will allow us to respond to the connectivity challenges of the South American countries”, said Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group. 

Meanwhile, the CFO of LATAM Airlines Group, Ramiro Alfonsín added that “the group made significant financial progress. On one hand, gross debt was substantially reduced by 37.5% compared to the pre-pandemic period and liquidity increased, reaching US$2.3 billion at the end of last year. Also, LATAM Group showed a solid operational recovery in the fourth quarter in which consolidated operations were 83.2% of 2019 levels (measured in ASKs), which represents the highest level of quarterly since the beginning of the pandemic. Today LATAM Airlines Group has a more competitive cost structure, a solid balance sheet and a unique level of liquidity in the region to face the challenges of the business”.

Operational recovery and connectivity

During the fourth quarter, the consolidated operations of LATAM Group were 83.2% of 2019 levels (measured in ASKs). Last year, LATAM Group transported approximately 62 million passengers, which represents an increase of 22 million compared to 2021, ending the year with 144 destinations in 22 countries, in line with the number of destinations flown at the end of 2019.

By 2023, LATAM Group expects annual growth in its passenger and cargo operations of more than 20% compared to 2022. In 2023, LATAM Group will fly 38 routes that it did not operate in 2019, among which two are part of the JV with Delta.

In terms of connectivity, 2022 was a great year for the LATAM Group. After the implementation of the joint venture (JV) with Delta Air Lines, passengers will have the possibility of accessing more than 300 destinations between the US/Canada and South America (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay). In July 2023, LATAM Airlines Brazil will operate Los Angeles – Sao Paulo and LATAM Airlines Colombia will operate Orlando – Bogotá. Regarding the latter route, the Colombian subsidiary plans to transport 120,000 passengers a year, offering better connection alternatives from within Colombia and Ecuador to the east coast of the United States through the Delta hub in Orlando and the LATAM connection center in Bogotá.

Meanwhile, the group continued to show its growth in the region, with affiliates in Brazil, Chile and Peru, increasing its market share in their respective domestic segments. In the case of the Brazilian subsidiary, it went from a 34% market share in 2019 to 37% at the end of the year, while in the Peruvian subsidiary it went from 62% to 65% and in the Chilean subsidiary it went from 58% to 60%.

Currently, LATAM Airlines Brazil flies to 54 Brazilian destinations, the highest number in its history in the country. In 2022 alone, it began flying to 6 new destinations in Brazil: Presidente Prudente, Cascavel, Caxias do Sul, Juiz de Fora/Zona da Mata, Montes Claros and Sinop. As well, it flew again directly from São Paulo/Guarulhos to Boston and Rome, and opened the routes Rio de Janeiro/Galeão-Buenos Aires/Ezeiza, Rio de Janeiro/Galeão-Buenos Aires/Aeroparque, Rio de Janeiro/Galeão – Lima, Florianópolis-Santiago, Curitiba-Santiago, Porto Alegre-Lima and Fortaleza-Miami.

LATAM Airlines Colombia to launch the Bogota – Orlando route

LATAM Airlines Colombia will launch a new nonstop service between Orlando and Bogotá on July 1, 2023.

The operation is part of the first announcements made since the approval of the Joint Venture with Delta last September.

The Orlando – Bogotá route will be the second between the United States and the Colombian market. The flight will be sold with a morning itinerary departing Bogotá at 10:15 a.m. towards Orlando, and in the evening back to Colombia at 4:47 p.m. The 4-hour 15-minute journey will operate with an Airbus A320 aircraft, with a capacity for 174 passengers.

Joint Venture Between Delta and LATAM

The Joint Venture between LATAM  and Delta seeks to improve travel experiences for passengers and cargo customers. The agreement applies to markets between North America (United States and Canada) and South America (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay), delivering benefits like the joint accumulating of miles/points in frequent flier programs, and faster connections to access more than 300 destinations between the U.S./Canada and South America.

The alliance between LATAM and Delta commenced in 2019, when they announced their first agreement for reciprocal accumulating/exchange of miles/points, shared terminals in New York/JFK,  São Paulo/Guarulhos and Santiago. It includes joint access to 53 Delta VIP lounges Sky Club in the United States and five LATAM lounges in South America, including the new and exclusive Delta Sky Club in Los Ángeles (LAX) and the new LATAM Lounge Santiago in Chile, the biggest in South America.

LATAM Airlines Brazil recently announced their nonstop flights between the cities of São Paulo (Brazil) and Los Ángeles (United States), which will commence in the second quarter of 2023, with three weekly flights. This new route offers passengers access to the corporate market and general market of the United States from Los Angeles, where Delta is the global airline with the largest presence.