LATAM Airlines Group will open
bookings next month for flights
between Johannesburg and
São Paulo in Brazil, with fares
costing “no more than R8 000
including taxes”, says Martin
Modarelli, LATAM’s commercial
director for the UK, Nordic
countries and Africa.
He was speaking at the
WTM Africa in Cape Town on
April 6. Services will begin on
October 2, with three weekly
flights departing Johannesburg
on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays. The airline will use
a B767-300, carrying 221
passengers in a two-class
configuration with 30 seats in
business class and 191 seats
in economy class.
“Africa and South America
have massive potential in
business and leisure travel,”
Martin said, adding that only
5 000 South Africans currently
travel to South America
annually, mainly visiting
Brazil and Chile for business
purposes. He said the new
service would open up 115
new destinations in seven
countries in South America,
and good connections to the
US, the Caribbean, Oceania
and Europe. LATAM has more
than 50% share of the São
Paulo-Rio de Janeiro route with
31 flights daily. “South Africa
is a strategic base for us in
Africa and we plan to grow
through demonstrating our
commitment here,” he said.
Johannesburg-based Border
Air will represent LATAM in
South Africa.
Martin said LATAM was
talking to Comair for a feeder
service within South Africa
and Southern Africa and was
also negotiating with eight
tour operators to package the
various destinations on the
continent.
South Africans do not require
visas for South America,
except for Colombia.
LATAM is the amalgamation
of LAN Airlines of Chile and
TAM airlines of Brazil.
