LATAM Brasil (ICAO: TAM) Airline Overview
LATAM Airlines Brasil, formerly known as TAM Linhas Aéreas, traces its origins back to 1961 when it was established as 'Táxi Aéreo Marília'. It grew to become a prominent Brazilian carrier before merging with Chile's LAN Airlines in 2012, forming the LATAM Airlines Group, the largest airline conglomerate in Latin America. The transition to the LATAM Brasil brand was completed in 2016.
The airline operates with its primary hub at São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU), supplemented by secondary hubs at Rio de Janeiro Galeão International Airport (GIG) and Brasília International Airport. Other significant operational centers include Fortaleza and São Paulo-Congonhas. LATAM Brasil commands a substantial route network, serving numerous domestic destinations across Brazil and an extensive international reach spanning Latin America, North America, the Caribbean, Oceania, Asia, and Europe. It holds the largest domestic and international market share in Brazil. The fleet comprises a mix of narrow-body Airbus aircraft (A319, A320, A321) and wide-body Boeing aircraft (767, 777, 787-8, 787-9), with a total fleet size of approximately 170 aircraft.
LATAM Brasil ceased its membership in the Oneworld alliance on May 1, 2020. Instead, it has forged partnerships with individual airlines such as Delta Air Lines, Iberia, and Aerolíneas Argentinas to enhance its network and connectivity. The airline offers a range of cabin classes, including Premium Business for long-haul flights, Premium Economy for regional and some international flights (featuring a blocked middle seat, priority services, and lounge access on selected international routes), and Economy class. Recently, a new "Premium Comfort" class for long-haul travel was introduced, offering enhanced amenities between Premium Business and Economy. Within Economy, passengers can opt for LATAM+ Seats for additional space and dedicated overhead bin access.
What Travelers Love:
Common Complaints:
Overall sentiment among travelers regarding LATAM Brasil appears to be mixed. While the airline is often praised for its professional crew, comfortable modern planes, and efficiency in certain aspects, significant and recurring issues such as frequent delays, perceived poor customer service, and inconsistent catering quality often dampen the passenger experience.
LATAM Brasil generally maintains a positive safety profile, with significant investments in aircraft maintenance and crew training. The LATAM Group's MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) center in São Carlos, Brazil, is recognized as the largest aircraft maintenance facility in Latin America. It performs over 60% of all scheduled maintenance for the group's aircraft and boasts a strong record of completing over 90% of checks on time over the past four years. The São Carlos facility is undergoing further expansion, with a new hangar for Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft scheduled to begin operations in September 2025.
In terms of regulatory certifications and recognition, the LATAM Group has been awarded the "Diamond" category for its APEX Health Safety standard, reflecting its adherence to stringent safety and hygiene protocols. LATAM's security standards are confirmed to align with industry best practices. The airline has also received numerous accolades, including being named "Best Airline in South America" by Skytrax multiple times and earning the "COVID-19 Aeronautical Excellence Award" for its pandemic safety measures. Furthermore, in the APEX 2025 Ranking, LATAM was honored as a "Five Star Global Airline" for the third consecutive year, a recognition based on comprehensive passenger feedback.
While the overall safety assessment remains strong, there have been some recent incidents. In July 2024, a LATAM Brasil Boeing 777 experienced a tail strike during takeoff from Milan, scraping the runway for over 720 meters due to incorrect data input by the pilots; no injuries were reported. This incident, alongside a crash involving a codeshare partner (Voepass), led to a reduction in LATAM's safety rating to 4/7 by AirlineRatings.com in August 2024. Other incidents for LATAM Airlines Brasil and LATAM Cargo Brasil, such as bird strikes, engine fires, hydraulic failures, and other operational issues, have been reported but without documented fatalities for LATAM Brasil flights in recent history.
| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSB → CGH |
São Paulo-Congonhas
São Paulo
|
215 | 543 mi | A319 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| FLN → CGH |
São Paulo-Congonhas
São Paulo
|
211 | 304 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| FLN → GRU |
São Paulo-Guarulhos Int'l
Sao Paulo
|
191 | 321 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| BEL → GRU |
São Paulo-Guarulhos Int'l
Sao Paulo
|
181 | 1531 mi | A321 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| MAO → GRU |
São Paulo-Guarulhos Int'l
Sao Paulo
|
154 | 1678 mi | A321 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| SSA → GRU |
São Paulo-Guarulhos Int'l
Sao Paulo
|
142 | 903 mi | A321 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| SLZ → GRU |
São Paulo-Guarulhos Int'l
Sao Paulo
|
138 | 1450 mi | A321 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| BPS → GRU |
São Paulo-Guarulhos Int'l
Sao Paulo
|
125 | 681 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| FOR → GRU |
São Paulo-Guarulhos Int'l
Sao Paulo
|
123 | 1459 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| SSA → CGH |
São Paulo-Congonhas
São Paulo
|
122 | 920 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| VIX → GRU |
São Paulo-Guarulhos Int'l
Sao Paulo
|
115 | 454 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| MVD → GRU |
São Paulo-Guarulhos Int'l
Sao Paulo
|
115 | 977 mi | A321 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| BSB → GRU |
São Paulo-Guarulhos Int'l
Sao Paulo
|
109 | 532 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| CNF → CGH |
São Paulo-Congonhas
São Paulo
|
107 | 326 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| NAT → GRU |
São Paulo-Guarulhos Int'l
Sao Paulo
|
104 | 1428 mi | A321 | Dec 8, 2025 |
| JPA → GRU |
São Paulo-Guarulhos Int'l
Sao Paulo
|
103 | 1362 mi | A321 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| AJU → GRU |
São Paulo-Guarulhos Int'l
Sao Paulo
|
97 | 1061 mi | A321 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| MAO → BSB |
Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek Int'l
Brasilia
|
94 | 1212 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| CNF → GRU |
São Paulo-Guarulhos Int'l
Sao Paulo
|
93 | 308 mi | A320 | Dec 8, 2025 |
| ASU → GRU |
São Paulo-Guarulhos Int'l
Sao Paulo
|
86 | 707 mi | A320 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| VIX → CGH |
São Paulo-Congonhas
São Paulo
|
85 | 470 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| MAO → FOR |
Pinto Martins Int'l
Fortaleza
|
82 | 1486 mi | A321 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| JPA → BSB |
Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek Int'l
Brasilia
|
77 | 1065 mi | A320 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| POA → CGH |
São Paulo-Congonhas
São Paulo
|
75 | 521 mi | A320 | Dec 8, 2025 |
| POA → GRU |
São Paulo-Guarulhos Int'l
Sao Paulo
|
72 | 539 mi | A320 | Dec 8, 2025 |
Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.