Airline trust profile
LATAM Airlines LA
Independent · Hub: Santiago
At a glance
Key facts about this carrier
LATAM Airlines is South America's largest carrier, operating from hubs in Santiago (SCL) and Sao Paulo (GRU) with extensive domestic and international networks.
- Largest airline group in Latin America, formed from the 2012 LAN-TAM merger.
- Independent carrier since leaving oneworld in 2020; partners with Delta via joint venture.
- Dual hubs at Santiago (SCL) and Sao Paulo-Guarulhos (GRU) cover most of South America.
- Essential for multi-stop itineraries involving South American destinations.
Why this tier
LATAM Airlines is the largest carrier in Latin America with a fleet of 371 aircraft (projected 410 by end of 2026), operating from hubs in Santiago (SCL), Sao Paulo (GRU), Lima (LIM), and Bogota (BOG) across 100+ destinations. The airline left oneworld in May 2020 and operates independently, with a deep joint venture with Delta Air Lines covering 20+ U.S.-South America routes and codeshare access to Delta's domestic U.S. network. LATAM holds a Skytrax 4-star rating and is investing $360 million in new Recaro R7 lie-flat business suites (1-2-1 configuration) across its 787 fleet, with 24 of 37 Dreamliners retrofitted by end of 2026.
Strengths
- Largest route network in South America - dominant domestic coverage in Brazil, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Argentina with 100+ destinations
- Delta joint venture provides seamless connectivity to the U.S. via hubs in Atlanta, New York-JFK, and Los Angeles, with reciprocal lounge access and elite benefits
- Fleet of 37 Boeing 787 Dreamliners (787-8 and 787-9) for long-haul, plus 56 total widebodies including 777-300ER and 767-300ER
- On-time performance of 82.4% in 2025, ranking 7th globally per Cirium data
- New 1-2-1 lie-flat business suites with privacy doors rolling out on 787s (24 of 37 by end 2026); A321XLR with lie-flat suites arriving 2027
- Expanding long-haul network from Sao Paulo to Amsterdam, Brussels, and Cape Town in 2026
Watch-outs
- No alliance membership since leaving oneworld in 2020 - limits RTW ticket construction and partner earning/redemption flexibility compared to alliance carriers
- Legacy 2-2-2 business class seating still in service on un-retrofitted 787s and older widebodies through at least 2026
- Delta partnership is the primary global connector - passengers routing beyond the Americas have limited seamless options without alliance interline agreements
- Frequent flyer program (LATAM Pass) partner list is narrow compared to full alliance programs, creating gaps for mileage earning on non-partner carriers
Best used for
- South America
- Premium long-haul
Consultant intelligence
Operational notes
Hub and Connections
Dual hubs at Santiago (SCL) and Sao Paulo (GRU). Lima (LIM) is a secondary hub. Minimum connection time is 90 minutes at SCL and GRU, 120 minutes at LIM. Largest airline group in South America. Left oneworld in 2020. Now independent with a Delta Air Lines joint venture and codeshare partnership. Extensive domestic networks in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Baggage
Piece-based system. Basic fares include carry-on only. Checked bag allowance varies by route and fare class. Bags check through on LATAM connections and Delta codeshares. Interline baggage with Delta, Iberia, and other partners. Domestic Brazil flights have different baggage rules than international. Sports equipment policies vary by item.
Terminal Notes
SCL: operates from the new international terminal. GRU: Terminal 3 for international, Terminal 2 for domestic. LIM: operates from the main terminal. LATAM VIP Lounges available at major hubs. GRU connections between domestic (T2) and international (T3) require terminal change via airside connection.
Operational Issues
GRU is notorious for delays and congestion. SCL can have weather-related delays in winter (fog). Post-bankruptcy restructuring completed 2022. Fleet standardizing on A320neo family and 787 Dreamliner. Brazilian domestic network is high-frequency but prone to ATC delays. Currency and pricing vary significantly between LATAM country operations.
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