Brazil–Europe Air Travel Gets a Massive Upgrade as LATAM and TAP Launch Revolutionary Codeshare to Power Multi-City Journeys

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LATAM Brasil and TAP Air Portugal have unveiled a transformative codeshare alliance, set to take effect in the Northern Hemisphere’s summer of 2025, aiming to dramatically enhance air travel connectivity between South America and key destinations across Europe. This long-anticipated collaboration marks a major milestone in deepening strategic cooperation across the transatlantic aviation corridor, promising smoother travel experiences, increased route availability, and enhanced loyalty program benefits for global travelers.

Strengthening Transatlantic Connectivity

The newly established codeshare agreement is designed to optimize connectivity between Brazil and several major destinations in Europe. LATAM Brasil will now place its “JJ” flight code on a wide range of TAP Air Portugal-operated services departing from Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) to key European cities such as:

• Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
• Frankfurt (FRA)
• Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
• Madrid Barajas (MAD)
• London Heathrow (LHR)

This strategic integration ensures that LATAM passengers originating in Brazil can seamlessly travel beyond Portugal with a simplified booking and transit process.

Increasing Connectivity to Diverse Cities of Brazil

In a reciprocal move, TAP Air Portugal will place its “TP” flight code on several LATAM Brasil-operated domestic services, expanding its reach beyond São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) and Rio de Janeiro Galeão (GIG). European travelers arriving in Brazil can now access convenient onward connections to cities such as:

• Rio de Janeiro (SDU)
• Porto Alegre (POA)
• Curitiba (CWB)
• Salvador (SSA)

This step dramatically improves access to Brazil’s regional cities, opening up new opportunities for business, leisure, and cultural exploration across the country’s vast geography.

Benefits for Passengers

For international travelers, the codeshare brings substantial advantages. Booking itineraries under a single ticket provides seamless travel from start to finish, including coordinated schedules, aligned check-in and boarding procedures, and smoother baggage handling across both airlines. Furthermore, the partnership integrates frequent flyer programs, allowing passengers to accrue and redeem miles across LATAM’s and TAP’s loyalty systems.

Despite operating under different global alliances—LATAM with oneworld and TAP with Star Alliance—the two carriers have developed bilateral mileage agreements that enhance the value proposition for loyal customers. This includes priority services, lounge access (where eligible), and additional perks for elite members of each airline’s program.

Meeting Surging Demand Between Brazil and Europe

This agreement comes at a critical time when demand for transatlantic travel is rebounding with unprecedented strength. Brazil–Europe traffic has been particularly buoyant, driven by both tourism and corporate sectors. With cultural ties, business investments, and migration patterns linking the two regions, travelers increasingly seek streamlined options that bridge the continents with ease.

TAP Air Portugal continues to be the dominant European airline serving Brazil, offering multiple daily departures from Lisbon to major Brazilian cities including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Brasília, and Belo Horizonte. LATAM Brasil, with its extensive domestic footprint, further enhances this connectivity by funneling international travelers into Brazil’s secondary cities and lesser-known yet vibrant destinations.

Supporting Multi-Destination Itineraries

Modern travelers, particularly those from Europe exploring South America, often seek multi-city and multi-country itineraries. This codeshare agreement significantly supports such travel patterns by simplifying access to regional Brazilian destinations that are not always well-served by direct international flights. Whether tourists wish to explore the beaches of Bahia, the cultural richness of Salvador, or the southern charm of Curitiba and Porto Alegre, this partnership makes planning and executing complex trips more feasible.

Likewise, for Brazilian travelers heading to Europe, the codeshare means greater access to cities beyond Lisbon, expanding their travel footprint with convenience and value.

Boosting Airline Competitiveness and Strategic Reach

This partnership is more than a commercial convenience—it is a calculated strategy by both airlines to strengthen their competitive edge in the transatlantic market. TAP Air Portugal consolidates its position as the premier European gateway for Brazil-bound travelers, while LATAM gains enhanced visibility and market share in Europe without having to deploy its own fleet across every route.

In an era where airline profitability hinges on connectivity, partnerships like this allow carriers to expand their global reach efficiently. By tapping into each other’s networks, the two airlines reduce operational redundancy, optimize aircraft utilization, and enhance load factors on long-haul flights.

Easy Booking and Immediate Availability

Travelers can already begin booking itineraries that fall under the codeshare agreement. Tickets are available via both airlines’ official websites, global distribution systems (GDS), and accredited travel agencies. The codeshare flights are scheduled to go live starting in late March 2025, aligning with the onset of the Northern Hemisphere’s summer travel season.

This timing is especially advantageous, as international travel typically sees a strong seasonal uptick during the spring and summer months. The partnership positions both LATAM Brasil and TAP Air Portugal to capitalize on this peak, while delivering superior service to travelers from both hemispheres.

A Strategic Blueprint for the Future

Beyond immediate operational benefits, the codeshare is likely a precursor to even broader cooperation between the two airlines in the coming years. As global aviation trends lean toward deeper alliances and joint ventures, LATAM and TAP may further integrate their route planning, pricing strategies, and customer experience initiatives.

The success of this codeshare could also inspire similar agreements involving other key South American countries and European hubs, potentially reshaping the regional dynamics of long-haul travel between the continents.

Summary Table of Key Routes Under the Codeshare Agreement

The LATAM Brasil–TAP Air Portugal codeshare agreement is a forward-looking, passenger-centric development that reinforces the strategic importance of transatlantic partnerships. By connecting Europe’s busiest airports with Brazil’s regional heartlands, the alliance creates an expansive travel corridor that is efficient, accessible, and enriched with possibilities for exploration, business, and cultural exchange. With travel between South America and Europe reaching new heights, this timely cooperation sets a new benchmark in global aviation connectivity.