Chile-based Lan, majority owner of the Lan Tam airline group and which operates in seven markets in the Latin American region, will add destinations and increase frequencies from Latin America to Europe and North America during 2015, a company spokeswoman said.
Starting in October, the airline will add flights from Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Barcelona, Spain, while in November Lan will operate direct flights from Santiago to Milan via Sao Paulo with a new Boeing 787, according to information provided by the spokeswoman by email.
In addition, starting in September there will be three additional weekly flights between Santiago and Madrid, she added.
These frequency expansions will complement other flights started this year, including Toronto as a destination from Latin America. Earlier this year the company also started separate flights to Orlando, Florida, from Lima and Brasilia, as well as another frequency from Sao Paulo to Cancun, she said.
The spokeswoman did not provide any comment on expectations of additional revenue.
According to information she provided, Lan and Tam transport some 68 million passengers annually to more than 140 destinations in 24 countries. The company moves half the air passengers in South America and has 53,000 employees, according to company information. It has a fleet of 320 airplanes.
In other developments, the company has started viability studies for a new hub in northeast Brazil in addition to existing hubs in Sao Paulo and Lima.
The company has agreements in place to purchase for $12.2 billion a total of 116 airplanes, A320 from Airbus, in addition to another 48 airplanes, which include the models Airbus A350, 900 XWB as well as Boeing 787-8 and Boeing 787-9.
The company is also investing $100 million in digital platforms, according to the information.
“This new flight will allow us to connect Santiago and Milan, via São Paulo, using our new Boeing 787s, which offers 13 percent more seats and an improved executive class, with cutting-edge in-flight entertainment, thereby allowing us to connect more people between South America and Europe," said Roberto Alvo, CEO of International Business and Alliances at LATAM Airlines Group, according to a company statement about the new flight.
The executive also mentioned an ongoing renovation of the new terminal 3 at the Guarulhos Airport, adding it will allow “for shorter connection times in flights via São Paulo and providing passengers with an improved travel experience.”
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