· The Group plans to launch six new international routes over the last quarter 2015 and next year between Latin America and North America, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa.
· LAN Peru, part of LATAM Airlines Group, will commence flights between Washington DC and Lima in the second half of 2016, the only airline operating a nonstop route between the two capital cities.
· TAM, part of LATAM Airlines group, will be the only Latin American carrier with regularly scheduled flights to Africa with a new route between Sao Paulo and Johannesburg pending approval from regulatory authorities.
October 19, 2015 – As part of its strategy to offer the best network of connection to, from and within Latin America, LATAM Airlines Group announces plans to launch six new international routes from now through the end of 2016.
These new destinations will strengthen the Group’s connectivity in Latin America, North America, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa. Some of these new routes include LAN Peru’s first ever nonstop flight between Washington DC and Lima. LAN Peru’s will operate 4 weekly flights between Washington DC and Lima starting in the second half of 2016, thus becoming the only airline operating a nonstop route between the two capital cities.
In addition, TAM is awaiting approval from authorities to operate from Sao Paulo to Johannesburg, making LATAM Airlines Group the only Latin American airline with regularly scheduled flights to the African continent.
“We are extremely pleased with this announcement as it represents an important milestone for the group since we are beginning operations to a fifth destination within the United States, becoming the only operator to offer nonstop service between Lima and Washington DC. This strengthens the Company’s operations between Latin America and the US. In addition, TAM is awaiting approval from authorities to launch a route from Sao Paulo to Johannesburg in 2016. Currently, there are no other Latin American airlines that connect Latin America to Africa,” said Enrique Cueto, CEO LATAM Airlines Group
Among the new routes, on December 2015, LAN Peru will add nonstop flights between Lima and Montevideo and Lima and Antofagasta, and will also increase weekly flights from 14 to 17 on the Miami to Lima route.
Adjustments to LATAM Airlines Group’s Brazil international network
In Brazil, TAM will adjust its international network in 2016, focusing on destinations that have the potential to best bolster the country’s economy. Among the changes to the current Brazil network will be the cancellation of the thrice weekly Miami to Belo Horizonte route as of March 2016. TAM will continue to offer passengers efficient international connection options from other LATAM Airlines Group hubs, like Brasilia, that already offer easy connections to Buenos Aires, Miami and Orlando. In order to increase connectivity, the existing Brasilia to Orlando route will increase from three flights per week to six.
“LATAM Airlines Group is committed to continually growing and improving connectivity for our passengers throughout Latin America. The size of the Group, present in several countries in the region, is what allows us to combine flexibility and connectivity to open promising new routes, make strategic changes throughout our network, and make real time adjustments in markets where demand has decreased,” said Cueto.
Also, the Orlando to Sao Paulo route will operate TAM’s new Airbus A350 XWB starting in the second half of 2016 with seven flights per week instead of 11. In April of 2016 TAM will add another flight on the Miami to Fortaleza route for a total of two flights per week and will reduce weekly frequencies from five to four for the Miami to Manaus route.
In February 2016, TAM will begin operating a nonstop flight from Sao Paulo to Bogota, increasing LATAM Airlines Group’s weekly frequencies for this route from seven to 11 and expanding easy connections to Caribbean destinations via Bogota. Additionally, starting in January 2016, TAM will also begin operating the Sao Paulo to Lima route, which is a route already serviced by LATAM Airlines Group.
New connectivity options from Latin America to Europe
In June 2016, TAM’s new flight from Sao Paulo to Barcelona will add frequencies to become a daily service. Starting next month (November 2015), LAN will start flying the Santiago – Sao Paulo – Milan route. And to strengthen connectivity to Europe even more, the company added three frequencies on the Santiago – Madrid routes during 2015.
More options to the Caribbean
On December 2015, LAN Colombia and TAM will begin operating to Punta Cana from Bogotá (LAN Colombia) and from Brasilia (TAM) 4 times a week in both cases.
Below please find LATAM Airlines Group’s new flight details for 2015 and 2016; some flights are confirmed and some are awaiting approval from authorities.