In a bid to enhance its connectivity, LATAM Group now operates flights to 143 destinations, marking a 7% rise from May 2022. The airline’s expansion includes new routes and additional flights, emphasizing its commitment to improved passenger and cargo services.
New Routes and Increased Frequencies
Significant additions to LATAM’s network include the Lima (LIM) – Iguazu (IGU) and Lima (LIM) – Salta (SLA) routes, both operated by LATAM Airlines Peru. The former route commenced on November 1 and the latter on December 2, each with three weekly flights. In addition, LATAM Airlines Brazil has amplified its Fortaleza (FOR) – Miami (MIA) service from a single weekly frequency to twice a week, effective from July 28. LATAM Airlines Chile has also expanded its Santiago de Chile (SCL) – Los Angeles (LAX) service, increasing from three to five weekly flights starting October 2.
Award-winning LATAM Cargo Services
In other news, LATAM Cargo was recently recognized by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) with the Air Cargo Innovation Award in the corporate category. The award acknowledged the company’s successful plastic reduction initiatives in its Chile and Brazil cargo operations.
Operational Performance Indicators
In April 2023, LATAM reported a 26.2% year-on-year increase in passenger traffic, measured in revenue passenger-kilometers (RPK). Available seat-kilometers (ASK), an indicator of the airline’s operational capacity, rose by 29.6%. However, the occupancy factor dropped by 2.1 percentage points to 79.1%.
Flower Power: LATAM Cargo’s Performance During Mother’s Day Season
LATAM Cargo played a pivotal role during the Mother’s Day season, transporting nearly 20,000 tons of flowers from Ecuador and Colombia between April 17 and May 7. The company significantly increased its flight offerings to accommodate the surge in demand, a strategy that was mirrored during Valentine’s Day, another peak period for the flower industry.
The cargo subsidiary upped its flight services by 23% compared to the same season in 2022, facilitating an increase in flower deliveries. The Colombian subsidiary of LATAM Cargo transported 12,000 tons of flowers from Bogota and Medellin, representing a 14% growth compared to the previous year. Ecuador, on the other hand, saw a 32% increase, with over 7,800 tons of flowers sent to Miami, Los Angeles, and Amsterdam.
LATAM Cargo’s International Commercial Director for South America, Claudio Torres, highlighted the company’s efforts in meeting customer needs, emphasizing its dedication to the development of the flower industry. With the addition of a new freighter aircraft, the company was able to offer increased capacity during the season, thus surpassing the one million boxes of flowers transported.
