RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – LATAM Brasil intends to expand its operations in the domestic market by 50 percent in August and September. According to the airline, there will be 244 daily flights by late September, still well below the 750 daily flights operated in 2019, but above the 110 seen in July, which shows an increase in demand, “though timid,” according to the company.
The operations in Guarulhos (São Paulo) and Brasília, LATAM’s main interconnection hubs in Brazil, will be strengthened. According to the company, there will be 300 cities served through Guarulhos airport, with the addition of 37 destinations, and 200 from Brasília, with 28 additional destinations.
“While we pursue our financial reorganization and ensure the commitment of access to over R$12 billion through DIP (debtor-in-possession) rules, with no help from the governments so far, LATAM Brasil again steps up and expands its flight offer,” commented the company’s CEO in Brazil, Jerome Cadier.
In early July, LATAM Brasil filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States. This provided the company with access to a US$2.4 billion loan granted by the company’s shareholders and Oaktree Capital Management.
In addition to restarting domestic routes, LATAM reported that the new flights will connect Guarulhos to the company’s international network, with destinations such as Lima, New York, Mexico, Montevideo, Buenos Aires and Asuncion, joining Lisbon, Madrid, Frankfurt and London.