LATAM Airlines Brasil inaugurated nonstop service between São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) on July 1, 2026. Flights operate three times weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft configured with 30 business-class and 270 economy seats, per Aviación al Día. The outbound flight (LA8060) departs São Paulo at 22:45 and lands in Cape Town at 10:55 the following morning; the return (LA8061) departs Cape Town at 15:50 and arrives in São Paulo at 20:00.
Cape Town marks LATAM Brasil's second African destination after Johannesburg, and the launch brings the carrier to a record 31 international destinations operated under its own metal from Brazil. The route was originally planned to start in September 2026 before being brought forward to July, as reported by Time Out Cape Town.
Aviation Week reported that South African Airways already serves Cape Town–São Paulo twice weekly with Airbus A330-300s, having launched that route in November 2023, so LATAM will add competition on the sector. The new service is part of a broader LATAM Brasil international expansion that also includes new GRU routes to Amsterdam (launched March 29) and Brussels (launched June 1). CEO Jerome Cadier framed the expansion as the result of "30 years of consistent strategy built on efficiency, sustainability, and long-term vision."
Sources
- https://aviacionaldia.com/en/2026/06/latam-brasil-launches-flights-to-cape-town-ushuaia-and-punta-cana-reaching-a-record-31-international-destinations.html
- https://www.timeout.com/cape-town/news/cape-towns-new-brazil-flight-is-almost-here-060226
- https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/latam-airlines-brazil-expands-europe-africa-network
- https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/routes-networks-latest-rolling-daily-updates-wc-june-29-2026
Things to do at each end of the route
Top-rated tours & experiences in São Paulo and Cape Town.