LATAM Airlines Group announced today that it will offer three new international destinations in 2018 – Rome (Italy), Lisbon (Portugal) and Boston (United States) – from its São Paulo/Guarulhos hub in Brazil, increasing Latin America’s connectivity with Europe and North America.
Starting 16 March 2018, LATAM Airlines Brazil will operate three weekly flights (increasing to five weekly flights in July 2018) from São Paulo to Rome, which will become its second destination in Italy after Milan. Tickets are available via latam.com and LATAM sales channels from today.
LATAM Airlines Group and its affiliates also plan to offer flights from São Paulo to Lisbon and Boston by mid-2018 – subject to regulatory approval – with further detail to follow.
“Following the approval of LATAM’s Joint Business Agreements with American Airlines and IAG by Brazil’s CADE, these new services demonstrate the group’s commitment to providing passengers in Brazil and Latin America with the benefits that we expect these agreements will deliver, including more destinations, increased connectivity and lower fares,” said Enrique Cueto, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group. “These routes will also create new opportunities for bilateral tourism and trade both in Brazil and other parts of the region.”
On 2 October 2017, Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) approved the proposed JBA between LATAM Airlines Group and American Airlines, adding to the approval of the LATAM-IAG (International Airlines Group) JBA in March 2017. Both JBAs have also been approved in Colombia and Uruguay.
São Paulo-Rome service
Starting 16 March 2018, LATAM Airlines Brazil flight JJ8180 will depart São Paulo/Guarulhos at 15:55 on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, arriving in Rome (Leonardo da Vinci International Airport) at 07:55 the next day, with a journey time of 12 hours. The return flight, JJ8181, will depart Rome at 10:00 on Monday, Thursday and Saturday, arriving in São Paulo at 18:35 the same day, with a journey time of 12 hours, 35 minutes (all times local).
LATAM Airlines Brazil will operate the route with Boeing 767 aircraft, offering 191 seats in Economy and 30 seats in Premium Business.
With a history spanning more than 2,500 years and as Italy’s modern-day capital, Rome attracts millions of visitors from around the globe each year. Once known as ‘Caput Mundi’ (the capital of the world), Rome is still Italy’s largest city economically and in terms of population with 4.3 million inhabitants. Attractions include Ancient Roman relics such as the Colosseum, Pantheon and Roman Forum as well as world-renowned arts, fashion and cuisine. The Vatican City is also located within Rome’s boundaries.