FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

All-New LATAM Connects Latin America to the World

by Laura Daily

Jan 1, 2017
January 2017

MARRIAGE IS NEVER EASY. Even couples who seem perfectly suited for each other may opt to live together for a time before formally uniting. You want to know your potential spouse’s strengths, quirks and, maybe most important, bad habits. And in these modern times, if you do tie the knot, does one party take the other’s name? How do you successfully consolidate two households? Will friends and families accept the new couple?

Using marriage as an analogy for the merger of two airlines may seem a stretch, but it’s apt in the case of LATAM Airlines Group, now the largest airline group in Latin America after the merger of LAN and TAM.

With access to 136 destinations in Latin America, LATAM boasts the most modern and efficient fleet in the region, including Airbus A350 XWB, A321, ultra-fuel-efficient A320neo and Boeing 787 aircraft. The airline carries some 60 million passengers a year, making it the second-largest carrier between the United States and South America and the third-largest between Europe and South America.

The airline continues to optimize its route network. In May 2016 LATAM added the only non-stop flight between Washington-Dulles International Airport and Lima (LIM). Seasonal service has also been added: three non-stop flights a week between Los Angeles International Airport and Santiago (SCL) and two weekly non-stop flights between Orlando International Airport and Santiago. LATAM also became the only airline group in Latin America to fly to Africa, with the inauguration of its São Paulo (GRU)–Johannesburg (JNB) route this past October.

If ever two airlines were destined to wed, it would be LAN and TAM. “When you consider South America as a destination or place of origin and 50 percent of that is Brazil, you need a big footprint,” says Pablo M. Chiozza, senior vice president USA, Canada & Caribbean, LATAM Airlines Group, explaining why a merger made sense.

LAN was the leader in Spanish-speaking countries, and TAM was Brazil’s flagship carrier. For the past eight years, LAN and TAM alternated between first and second place in the Skytrax World Airline Survey’s Best Airlines in South America category.

The two began an association in 2012, but would one lose its identity to the other? No. Instead, a new brand — LATAM — was announced in August 2015, the first time an airline group chose to consolidate under a single brand.

The partnership brings together the strengths and characteristics of LAN and TAM, delivering much more than the sum of its parts. According to Enrique Cuerto, CEO, LATAM Airlines Group, “LATAM was created by two large Latin American companies that started from zero and prospered thanks to their shared passion for flying, vision, dedication and innovation. Both companies conquered their markets and connected them with the world.”

Though it will take time for LATAM to completely deploy new branding across all its aircraft, business travelers are already enjoying upgrades designed to raise the airline to the world-class level of other international carriers. The South American experience starts as passengers step on board, from the warmth of the cabin crew to the interior design to the meal service.

“There’s something in the DNA of the people of South America — a warmth, a welcoming nature, a focus on service,” says Chiozza. “LATAM capitalizes on that.”

LATAM lie-flat bed

LATAM lie-flat bed © LATAM AIRLINES GROUP

Floors on the Airbus A320 resemble the Copacabana walkway. Long-haul Premium Business Class includes flatbed seats, dividing panels, plush pillows and blankets. On the 787, the full-flat seats include an ottoman to rest your feet, a lumbar massage and a memory system that learns the user’s seat position. All are equipped with high-resolution displays with an in-flight entertainment system and a touch-screen interface. Amenity kits by Salvatore Ferragamo are stocked with creams, a mirror, eye mask, lip balm and other items.

A new in-flight menu incorporates local ingredients from each country where LATAM operates and features special dishes for each route. Selections, which change every four to six months, might include Patagonian king crab, Argentinean flat-iron steak, Brazil nuts, quinoa, wheat berries, pirarucu fish, hearts of palm or sea bass.

For its new wine list, LATAM Airlines Group called upon the only Master Sommelier in Latin America, Héctor Vergara, who revamped the selection in its premium-cabin classes to feature original wines from Chilean and Argentinean producers.

He chose wines from Uco and Salta in Argentina as well as Colchagua and Limarí in Chile. “Our goal was to create a wine list of international quality that represents the original wines and latest trends being developed in this part of the world,” says Vergara.

LATAM service

LATAM service © LATAM AIRLINES GROUP

Travelers will find VIP lounges in São Paulo, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Bogotá and Miami. Plus, they can access more than 600 lounges of oneworld alliance member airlines. The LATAM mobile app enables passengers to check in, select seats, download boarding passes, check flight status and keep track of itineraries.

Short-haul flights within South America utilize the LATAM Entertainment system that offers free wireless streaming of films, television series, children’s content and flight information direct to passengers’ mobile devices.

Even after four years of integration and a $150 million investment, LATAM knows it faces challenges, starting with getting locals to remember there is no more LAN or TAM, but LATAM.

Chiozza adds that only a small percentage of the Latin American populace chooses to fly. “We’re trying to grow our local market by making it more affordable and by educating potential passengers — why drive 18 hours when it is easier to get from point A to point B by air?” he explains. Also in the works is a joint business with American Airlines, hopefully in place within a year.

“LATAM’s goal is to be the leading carrier in South America to the United States,” says Chiozza. “It’s not about being big for the sake of being big but getting close to our passengers with a high quality of service. We connect the world to Latin America better than anyone else.”

Sounds like this new union will celebrate many happy anniversaries for years to come.

LATAM

Route system: 136 destinations in 24 countries
Alliance: oneworld Loyalty program: LATAM PASS and LATAM Fidelidade
Fleet: A fleet of 329 aircraft, average age less than 7 years, includes Airbus A319, A320, A321, A320neo, A350; and Boeing 767, 777, 787-8 and 787-9.
Markets: Six in South America (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru) accounting for 90 percent of the region’s air traffic; plus Europe, the United States, the Caribbean, Oceania and Africa
Hubs: São Paulo (GRU), Brasília (BSB), Santiago (SCL), Lima (LIM) North America Hubs (with non-stop flights): New York (JFK), Washington-Dulles (IAD), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Orlando (MCO), Toronto (YYZ)

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Explore Excursions

#globility

Insta Feed
Daily
Nov 7, 2024

Secure These 2024 Black Friday Promotions from Velas Resorts in Mexico

Velas Resorts in Mexico joins in on this year’s Black Friday deals. The brand is offering up to 25 percent savings on nightly rates and other perks such as complimentary stays for kids and teens, airport transfers, unlimited access to the spa’s hydrotherapy experience, complimentary golf, suite upgrades, and more. In addition to this discount, each Velas property promises other unique benefits.

Remarkable Medellín

Visiting Medellín in Colombia: The Country of Beauty is like stepping into a fantastic story — literally, as the city in the Western Colombian Andes region inspired Disney’s Encanto. Here, valleys, the world’s tallest palms, vibrant communities, colorful houses, garden-like balconies and more prove reality is more picturesque than anything on film. And it’s especially more tempting following Medellín’s remarkable transformation, shedding its troubled past and reawakening as a city of innovation, art, cultural richness, modern infrastructure, thriving tourism and resiliency.

Airlines
Nov 7, 2024

SAS, Virgin Atlantic Announce Codeshare Partnership

SAS recently announced its new codeshare agreement with Virgin Atlantic. The partnership launched Oct. 7 and allows SAS customers to connect through London Heathrow to Virgin Atlantic destinations. Availability will expand as approvals are finalized.

Daily
Nov 6, 2024

Wings Museum in Denver Debuts New Exhibit in Collaboration with NASA

At Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in Denver, more than 100,000 square feet of space has been devoted to the history of aviation and space exploration. Displays including historic aircraft are exhibited at the former Lowry Air Force Base in Hangar 1 in eastern Denver, as well as at a second location, the 15-acre campus called Exploration of Flight at Centennial Airport.

Explore Egypt on the Most Extraordinary Tour Ever

Picture this: You’re standing in front of the Great Pyramid, the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, in complete silence, with no crowds in sight. As you step inside, your guide leads you to hidden chambers inaccessible to other tourists. Here, you’re granted a rare chance to delve into the deepest mysteries of ancient Egypt.

eFlyer Reviews
Nov 6, 2024

Kimpton Mas Olas Resort & Spa Review

Even with the recent proliferation of 5-star resorts between San Juan del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, Todos Santos has defined itself as a quiet yet vibrant alternative for travelers seeking a more peaceful and exclusive Baja experience. Tucked into the nearby fishing village of El Pescadero, Kimpton Mas Olas Resort and Spa fits the bill and more than lives up to its 5-star designation.

eFlyer Deals
Nov 6, 2024

Kimpton Hotel Eventi Debuts Thanksgiving Offer

There’s perhaps no other better place to spend Thanksgiving than in New York City, and this season, Kimpton Hotel Eventi celebrates this special day and season with a new offer.

Sailing the Ionian Sea: Explore Greece’s Nautical Gems

Sailing the Ionian Sea is an enchanting way to experience Greece's breathtaking islands and pristine waters. Known for its favorable winds, calm seas and stunning landscapes, the Ionian Sea offers a paradise for both experienced sailors and those looking to explore for the first time. From lively beaches to secluded bays, these waters have something for every traveler seeking adventure and relaxation.

eFlyer Lead
Nov 6, 2024

Could the U.S. Presidential Election Negatively Affect Travel?

On Marriott’s recent Q3 earnings call, Leeny Oberg, CFO, Marriott, reported the presidential election is likely to reduce Marriott’s November revenue per available room (RevPAR) in the United States and Canada by 3 percent.