LATAM Airlines Strengthens Domestic Connectivity within South American Markets

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With the resumption of 11 routes in domestic markets across Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru, LATAM Airlines Group, Latin America’s largest air carrier, reported that the operational estimate for January 2021 would be 40% of that in the same period of the previous year, just before the coronavirus pandemic hit the travel industry.

These new routes would add 770 daily domestic and international flights, connecting 112 destinations in 16 countries.

During December 2020, traffic (measured in rented-seat-kilometer – RPK) was 34.5% in relation to the same period of the previous year. This considered a 38.3% passenger operation (which is measured in available-seat-kilometer – ASK) compared to the same month last year, so the load factor decreased 8.4% points to 75.2%.

There has been a gradual recovery during the latest months where the operation of October and November 2020 was 26.8% and 33.4%, respectively, when compared to the similar period of 2019.

In cargo operations, the load factor was 62.6%, 5.4 percentage points over that registered in the same period of the previous year, highlighting the positive performance that LATAM Cargo has had in recent months.

LATAM Brasil

LATAM Brasil projects a passenger operation of 46% for this January compared to the same month of 2020, before the pandemic. January total routes: 85 domestic (equivalent to 406 daily flights) and 15 international. These operations represent 63% of the domestic and 24% of the international operations compared to the same month of 2020.

This month LATAM Brasil is launching three new domestic routes: between Brasília and Porto Seguro; São Paulo Congonhas and Foz do Iguaçu; São Paulo Congonhas and Ilhéus; and two new international routes: between São Paulo Guarulhos and Bogotá, and between Río de Janeiro Galeão and Santiago de Chile.

LATAM Chile

LATAM Chile projects a passenger operation of 30% for January compared to the same month of 2020, due to the setback in the process of ending quarantine in many communes in Chile and the greater restrictions for both domestic and international transport.

January total routes: 15 domestic (equivalent to 92 daily flights) and 14 international. These operations represent 35% of the domestic and 27% of the international operations compared to the same month of 2020.

This month LATAM Chile is launching two new domestic routes: between Santiago and Valdivia, Antofagasta and Concepción; and one new international route between Santiago de Chile and Río de Janeiro Galeão.

LATAM Colombia

LATAM Colombia projects a passenger operation of 64% for January compared to the same month of 2020. January total routes: 23 domestic (equivalent to 100 daily flights) and five international. These operations represent 67% of the domestic and 61% of the international operations compared to the same month of 2020.

This month LATAM Colombia is launching six new domestic routes: between Cali and Medellín, San Andrés and Medellín, Bogotá and Valledupar, Cali and Santa Marta, Cali and Barranquilla, and Medellín and Montería.

LATAM Peru

LATAM Peru projects a passenger operation of 38% for January compared to the same month of 2020. January total routes: 18 domestic (equivalent to 104 daily flights) and 17 international. These operations represent 57% of the domestic and 31% of the international operations compared to the same month of 2020.

LATAM Ecuador

LATAM Ecuador projects a passenger operation of 30% for January compared to the same month of 2020. January total routes: six domestic (equivalent to 17 daily flights) and three international. These operations represent 50% of the domestic and 22% of the international operations compared to the same month of 2020.