LATAM Airlines is the only brazilian airline flying direct from Africa to Brazil on a route that is expected to carry about 75,000 passengers a year. More efficient and competitive, LATAM is the airline that most connects South America to the world, with flights from Brazil to 90 direct and indirect destinations.
LATAM Airlines' inauguration flight Johannesburg - Sao Paul0
Johannesburg, 4 September 2023 - LATAM Airlines has just become the only airline to offer direct flights from South Africa to Brazil. The first flight on the Johannesburg - Sao Paulo route, which is expected to carry about 75,000 passengers a year between the two countries, landed in South Africa this Sunday (3/9). Notably, LATAM Airlines now flies from Brazil to 90 direct and indirect destinations abroad.
Davide Ioppolo, LATAM's Regional Commercial Director for Central and South East Europe, UK, Nordics, Middle East and South Africa, said: "Finally, after 3 years, we are reconnecting these two cities, which means two continents. Thanks to agreements with local airlines in South Africa and our network of destinations in South America, we can offer the best experience and flexibility to explore an entire region.”
Through LATAM Airlines' interline agreements with partner companies in South Africa, the new São Paulo-Johannesburg route is already connected to flights to countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Kenya, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Congo, Madagascar, Lesotho, Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, Gabon, Malawi, Ivory Coast, among others.
A SURPRISE ON THE INAUGURAL FLIGHT
LATAM Airlines' new route is operated three times a week on Boeing 787-900 aircraft seating 300 passengers (30 in Premium Business, 57 in Premium Economy and 213 in Economy). The flight departs from Johannesburg airport at 13:05 (local time) on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. From São Paulo-Guarulhos airport it departs at 17:25 (local time) on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays.
At the inaugural boarding in Johannesburg, LATAM held a ribbon cutting ceremony. Passengers on the first flight were met at the gate by company executives, where they were welcomed to the inaugural flight. During boarding they were presented with a personalized LATAM key chain and a box of Brigadeiros, a typical Brazilian sweet to give them a "taste of Brazil" from the start of the flight.
LATAM AIRLINES OFFERS A BETTER TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
LATAM Airlines has focused its efforts on several fronts to offer an increasingly simpler, faster, safer and closer travel experience to passengers. These are:
- Faster pre-boarding: LATAM offers three services that streamline passenger service at the airport. Automatic Check-in dispenses with in-person or online check-in and allows customers to automatically receive their virtual boarding pass on their mobile phone. Self-Service Kiosks, installed at 34 of the company's airports in Brazil, allow customers to print and tag their own baggage. Express Baggage Dispatch, installed at 9 airports in the country, reduces queuing time by up to 50%.
- More modern aircrafts: LATAM operates a modern and efficient fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircrafts. In South America, it operates flights with Airbus A320 family aircraft and, in some cases, wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 767, 787 and 777, which are also used on long-haul international flights.
- Full entertainment on LATAM Play: a free experience for LATAM customers during domestic and international flights. It is available on individual seat screens (for Boeing 767, 787 and 777 aircraft), via QR code or via the website http://latamplay.com/ for personal mobile devices (for Airbus A319, A320, A320neo and A321 aircraft). The platform offers the largest catalogue of in-flight entertainment free of charge. There are more than 100 movies, 300 series episodes, games and music, as well as access to the HBO Max catalogue.
- Brazilian Flavour: since the beginning of the year, LATAM has been promoting female chefs from different regions of Brazil through its "Brazilian Flavour" programme. Every three months, the airline schedules a signature dish (lunch and dinner) signed by these professionals to make up the menu in the Premium Business and Economy cabins of its international long-haul flights (more than 7 hours) departing from Brazil. From August 1st, the menu includes the Amazônia Encantada dish (grilled pirarucu with seasonal vegetables, manteiguinha beans, special cream and Amazonian spice farofa) signed by chef Débora Shornik and representing the northern region of the country.
- Premium Business for more comfort on board: with seats that recline up to 180º, this cabin offers more privacy with direct access from all seats to the aisle of the aircraft, blanket and pillow, amenity kit, full in-flight entertainment and premium cuisine. Customers travelling in the Premium Business cabin also have exclusive service at the airport, from check-in to landing, and guaranteed access to all LATAM lounges.
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About LATAM Airlines Group
LATAM and its affiliates are the main group of airlines in Latin America with presence in five domestic markets in the region: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, in addition to international operations inside Latin America and between it and Europe, Oceania, the United States, and the Caribbean. The group has a fleet of Boeing 767, 777, 787, Airbus 321, 320, 320neo and 319 aircrafts. LATAM Cargo Chile, LATAM Cargo Colombia and LATAM Cargo Brazil are the cargo subsidiaries of the LATAM group, which in addition to having access to the group's passenger aircraft holds, have a combined fleet of 18 freighter aircrafts, which will gradually increase to a total of up to 19 freighter aircrafts by 2024. These cargo subsidiaries have access to the group's passenger aircraft and operate within the LATAM group's network, as well as on exclusive international routes for cargo transportation. In addition, they offer modern infrastructure and a wide variety of services and care options to meet the needs of their customers. More financial information at www.latamairlinesgroup.net
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