In a traffic release dated 9 March 2026, LATAM Airlines Group reported that it carried 7.1 million passengers in February, a 9.3 per cent jump year-on-year. Capacity, measured in available seat-kilometres, rose 11.4 per cent, while load factor improved to 85.6 per cent. Domestic Brazil led the recovery with a 15.6 per cent traffic surge as corporate bookings accelerated after Carnival. International demand was equally robust, up 18 per cent, reflecting the impact of Brazil’s recent visa-waiver initiatives and renewed interest from North America and Europe. Cargo capacity grew 7.6 per cent, supporting exporters of auto parts and agribusiness produce shuttling goods through São Paulo’s Viracopos hub. For mobility managers, the figures indicate tightening seat supply on key business corridors; dynamic fares on the São Paulo–Santiago route rose 12 per cent in February, according to Amadeus data.
![LATAM’s February traffic up 9.3 %, led by Brazil domestic rebound]()
At this juncture, VisaHQ can be an invaluable partner: its online platform simplifies obtaining Brazilian visas and other travel documents with digital forms, live tracking, and expert validation, allowing corporate mobility teams to keep itineraries agile despite shifting capacity. More details are available at https://www.visahq.com/brazil/
Companies with large travel volumes may need to lock in allotments earlier or explore alternate hubs such as Curitiba or Belo Horizonte. LATAM attributes the performance to fleet renewal—16 A320neo family aircraft entered service over the past year—and to its joint venture with Delta Air Lines, which funnels US traffic into Brazil. Analysts believe the carrier is on track to exceed its 2026 target of 85 million passengers system-wide, underscoring Brazil’s role as the growth engine of South American aviation. The upbeat metrics contrast with capacity constraints at Congonhas Airport, where slot scarcity has prompted regulators to fast-track a new remote-gate pier. Until that infrastructure is ready, latency in check-in and ground handling could stretch door-to-door journey times, an operational risk travel planners should factor into itineraries.
At this juncture, VisaHQ can be an invaluable partner: its online platform simplifies obtaining Brazilian visas and other travel documents with digital forms, live tracking, and expert validation, allowing corporate mobility teams to keep itineraries agile despite shifting capacity. More details are available at https://www.visahq.com/brazil/
Companies with large travel volumes may need to lock in allotments earlier or explore alternate hubs such as Curitiba or Belo Horizonte. LATAM attributes the performance to fleet renewal—16 A320neo family aircraft entered service over the past year—and to its joint venture with Delta Air Lines, which funnels US traffic into Brazil. Analysts believe the carrier is on track to exceed its 2026 target of 85 million passengers system-wide, underscoring Brazil’s role as the growth engine of South American aviation. The upbeat metrics contrast with capacity constraints at Congonhas Airport, where slot scarcity has prompted regulators to fast-track a new remote-gate pier. Until that infrastructure is ready, latency in check-in and ground handling could stretch door-to-door journey times, an operational risk travel planners should factor into itineraries.
