Brazil Travel Gets Major Boost as LATAM Expands Fleet, Adds New Routes and Four Domestic Destinations

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Subhankar Chakraborty

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September 5, 2026 6:37 AM

Brazil travel is being strengthened by a major LATAM route expansion that will add new aircraft, routes and domestic destinations across the country. LATAM Airlines has confirmed that up to 14 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft will be incorporated between November 2026 and March 2027, supporting 42 routes and four new destinations.

Cabo Frio, Ji-Paraná, Macaé and Rondonópolis will be added to the Brazil domestic network, taking LATAM Airlines Brazil to 67 domestic destinations. The expansion is being positioned as a long-term investment in connectivity, operational efficiency and customer experience, while giving travellers broader access to regional cities across Brazil more efficiently.

Fleet Growth Is Being Used to Expand Travel Connectivity

During the second quarter, nine aircraft were received by LATAM Airlines Group, including two wide-body aircraft, taking the total fleet to 383 aircraft. In Brazil, the first phase of operations involving Embraer E195-E2 aircraft was also announced as part of the group’s long-term investment strategy.

Between November 2026 and March 2027, up to 14 aircraft are expected to be incorporated into the Brazilian operation. They will be deployed across 42 routes, allowing the airline’s domestic footprint to be widened and additional connections to be supported.

The LATAM route expansion is being developed around fleet growth, broader connectivity and operational efficiency. The investment is also intended to strengthen the customer experience and support a more efficient and sustainable operation.

Four New Brazilian Destinations Have Been Confirmed

Four destinations have been confirmed for the first phase of the expansion. Cabo Frio, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Ji-Paraná in Rondônia, Macaé in Rio de Janeiro and Rondonópolis in Mato Grosso will be added to the carrier’s domestic map.

These additions will widen Brazil travel choices across different parts of the country. The new destinations are being introduced alongside the deployment of the Embraer fleet and will form part of the 42-route programme planned through March 2027.

Once the expansion has been completed, LATAM Airlines Brazil is expected to serve 67 domestic destinations, compared with 44 destinations in 2019. The resulting Brazil domestic network will be the most extensive operated by the airline in its history.

Passenger Growth Provides the Operational Backdrop

The expansion is being introduced while substantial passenger volumes continue to be handled across the wider LATAM network. During the second quarter, 21.1 million passengers were carried and consolidated capacity was increased by 8.9%.

International capacity grew by 11.8%, while domestic capacity at LATAM Airlines Brazil was increased by 5.7%. Domestic operations across affiliates in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru grew by 5.3%. A consolidated load factor of 81.8% was recorded.

For 2026, overall capacity growth of between 9% and 10% year on year is expected. The full set of guidance parameters, including capacity and revenues, was reinstated after improved visibility into expected performance had been reported.

A second phase of expansion is already being evaluated. Up to 18 additional destinations are being assessed for 2027 as more aircraft are delivered by Embraer, reflecting the group’s confidence in Brazil and its long-term strategy.

No final list of these destinations has been provided. However, the assessment has been presented as another part of LATAM’s commitment to expanding connections within Brazil and linking more Brazilians with domestic and international destinations.

The first phase remains clearly defined, with up to 14 aircraft, 42 routes and four newly confirmed destinations scheduled between November 2026 and March 2027.

Financial Strength Supports the Confirmed Network Plan

The network programme is being advanced despite a quarter marked by sharply higher fuel costs. Net income of US$125 million was reported, while revenues reached US$4.2 billion, 28% above the same period in 2025.

Fuel-related costs reached US$1.7 billion, rising 93.1% year on year, while the fuel price paid, including hedges, increased by 81.3%. Even so, an adjusted operating margin of 5.4% and adjusted EBITDA of US$713 million were recorded.

Adjusted operating cash flow reached US$473 million, while cash stood at US$2.7 billion at the end of June. Including committed and fully available credit facilities, total liquidity reached US$4.2 billion.

For 2026, adjusted EBITDA of between US$4.1 billion and US$4.4 billion is projected. Year-end liquidity of at least US$4.7 billion is expected, while adjusted net leverage is forecast at or below 1.6 times.

Conclusion

Brazil travel is set to gain wider domestic connectivity as the LATAM route expansion progresses through new aircraft, routes and destinations. LATAM Airlines Brazil is expected to reach 67 domestic destinations, compared with 44 in 2019, after Cabo Frio, Ji-Paraná, Macaé and Rondonópolis are added.

Up to 14 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft will support 42 routes between November 2026 and March 2027. The expanded Brazil domestic network is being backed by fleet investment, passenger growth and financial resilience. With further destinations under assessment for 2027, the current programme represents the airline’s largest domestic network yet in Brazil for domestic travellers nationwide.