LATAM Airlines Group recently unveiled its plan to transform the cabins and travel experience of two-thirds of its global fleet with a US$400 million investment. The company will revamp the interior of more than 200 aircraft over the next two years with passengers being able to fly the first renovated aircraft before the end of 2018.
“As part of LATAM’s long-term vision, the transformation of our cabins will enable us to offer an industry-leading onboard experience with more options, flexibility and personalisation to better serve each and every passenger,” said Claudia Sender, Vice President Clients, LATAM Airlines Group. “This means being able to serve leisure passengers who want to ‘travel lighter for less’ at the same time as customers travelling for business who want privacy to both rest and work, in addition to those who wish to be able to upgrade the services that they value the most.”
LATAM will transform the cabins of aircraft that serve both long – and short-haul routes throughout its network. LATAM Airlines Peru will receive the first new-look aircraft before the end of the year, followed by LATAM Airlines Brazil at the start of 2019, providing passengers travelling via LATAM’s Lima and São Paulo hubs with the first opportunity to experience the new cabins. LATAM Airlines Group’s Chile affiliate will operate aircraft featuring the new cabins from the second half of 2019.
A new travel experience
For passengers travelling on long-haul routes, LATAM will transform the cabins of its Boeing 767 and Boeing 777 wide-body aircraft as well as apply the revamped design to new Boeing 787-9s and Airbus A350-1000s due for delivery over the coming years. The cabins will offer:
- A new Premium Business seat and service that focuses on privacy and rest. Each Wide Thompson seat will have direct aisle access and offer seating options for both individuals and couples as well as a full-flat bed. It will also feature the latest generation in-flight entertainment with an 18” personal screen and have ample space for personal items
- On new aircraft, the economy cabin will feature ergonomically designed Recaro seats, offering greater comfort, fast-charging USB power ports, larger 12” individual seat-back screens and a state-of-the-art inflight entertainment system
- Passengers in economy will also have the option to upgrade to LATAM+ Seats, offering increased space, greater recline and premium services such as priority check-in and boarding
For passengers travelling on domestic flights and routes within Latin America, LATAM will transform the cabin of over 150 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft to offer:
- Wi-Fi connectivity and greater in-flight entertainment options
- Ergonomically designed Recaro seats, offering greater comfort and fast-charging USB power ports
- The opportunity to upgrade to LATAM+ Seats, offering greater space, dedicated overhead bins and premium services such as priority check-in and boarding
A collaborative process
LATAM spent three years fine-tuning the design of its new cabins – consulting passengers and experts, carrying out seat trials and ergonomic tests as well as 360 evaluations involving customers, cabin crew and LATAM team members. To select its Premium Business seat, the airline group even simulated flights with sleep trials over a two-week period.
“Onboard experience is one of the most important differentiators in choosing an airline and the most relevant factor in customer satisfaction, so it was essential that our passengers were involved in the development process,” added Sender. “We are committed to better understanding and satisfying passenger needs and we believe that with these new cabins – in addition to our unrivalled network of destinations – that LATAM is well placed to consolidate its position as the first choice for passengers travelling in Latin America.”
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