LATAM Airlines Group - statistics & facts
South America is a continent with incredible geographical diversity. From Amazon rainforests to the Atacama Desert, and Andes mountains to Pacific Ocean islands, the continents offer many natural beauties to those who live or travel around. Having various landscapes is surely beautiful, but it also brings some challenges. Traveling between South American countries is difficult due to their distance and geographic obstacles. Hence, aviation is regarded as one of the most significant modes of transportation on the continent.
The achievement of net zero targets presents a significant challenge for many airlines, and LATAM is no exception. The company must prioritize the enhancement of its fuel efficiency by adding more efficient aircraft into its fleet and utilizing more sustainable aviation fuels, as this will have a significant impact on LATAM Airlines' operations in the future.
History of LATAM Airlines
LATAM Airlines Group is a holding company that was formed from the merger of Chile's and Brazil's flag carriers, namely LAN and TAM airlines. It quickly became the biggest airline group in Latin America, flying to 140 destinations in Latin America, the Caribbean, the U.S., Canada, and Europe. During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global aviation industry was forced to a standstill which put LATAM's survival at risk. However, after the first year of the pandemic, the company's operations began to show signs of recovery. Specifically, the operating revenue of LATAM grew from 4.3 billion in 2020 to a new record high of 11.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2023.Operations in Brazil
In 2023, the airline also ranked as Brazil's leading domestic airline company, surpassing its two major competitors in the Brazilian aviation segment, with a market share of nearly 38 percent. LATAM’s headquarters are located in Santiago, Chile, but more than half of its employees were based in Brazil in that year. Brazil is also LATAM’s most successful region in terms of operations. As of 20233, 33 million air passengers uplifted in Brazil. This figure was almost 5,000 people more than the total domestic passenger numbers in Chile, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, and Colombia altogether.LATAM’s approach to carbon neutrality
Airline companies significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) globally, primarily due to fossil fuel usage for powering jet engines which release a substantial amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. From 2015 to 2023, LATAM’s GHG emissions overall increased, however, the Chilean-based airline has set targets to reduce its emissions significantly. One of these targets is to achieve a 50 percent reduction in domestic GHG emissions by 2030. Furthermore, the airline intends to attain carbon neutrality by the year 2050, in line with the objectives established by the Paris Agreement for the reduction of global warming.The achievement of net zero targets presents a significant challenge for many airlines, and LATAM is no exception. The company must prioritize the enhancement of its fuel efficiency by adding more efficient aircraft into its fleet and utilizing more sustainable aviation fuels, as this will have a significant impact on LATAM Airlines' operations in the future.
