LATAM Airlines Doubles Down on Corporate Travel Growth, Delta Joint Venture and Premium Investment as Business Demand: Insights from GBTA Convention 2026, Chicago, United States

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

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Mauricio Veloso, VP, Corporate Sales & Strategy at LATAM Airlines, spoke exclusively with Apratim Ghoshal, Senior Editor, Travel and Tour World during the GBTA Convention 2026, held from 3–5 August 2026 in Chicago, USA, to discuss the airline’s evolving corporate travel strategy, growing business demand across the Americas, and investments shaping its future.

During the exclusive interview, Mauricio Veloso highlighted LATAM’s continued focus on strengthening relationships with corporate customers through dedicated engagement, while noting that face-to-face business travel continues to grow despite the widespread use of virtual meeting technology.

Corporate travel continues to demonstrate strong resilience across the Americas despite the widespread adoption of virtual meeting technology, according to LATAM Airlines, which says business travel demand has continued to expand through 2026 as companies increasingly prioritise face-to-face engagement. Speaking during an interview at GBTA Convention 2026 in United States, the airline outlined its corporate travel strategy, growing partnership with Delta Air Lines, fleet investments and customer experience enhancements designed to strengthen its position in the business travel market.

During the interview, the executive responsible for LATAM Airlines’ Global Corporate Sales said the airline returned to GBTA 2026, Chicago with a clear objective: strengthening relationships with corporate customers through direct engagement with buyers, travel agencies and technology partners.

Corporate relationships remain central to LATAM’s strategy

Explaining the airline’s priorities at this year’s convention, Mauricio Veloso said LATAM has been investing heavily in its corporate sales organisation after creating a dedicated global corporate customers. The focus is on maintaining closer relationships with key accounts while listening to customer feedback and adapting services accordingly.

GBTA Convention 2026 provides an important opportunity to meet existing and prospective corporate clients face-to-face, helping the airline better understand changing business travel requirements and reinforce long-term partnerships.

Corporate travel demand continues to grow

Asked about broader market trends, the executive said corporate travel has remained on a consistent upward trajectory.

LATAM reported that business travel grew during 2025 compared with 2024, with that positive trend continuing throughout 2026. While remote collaboration platforms have become commonplace, the airline believes companies still place significant value on in-person meetings.

The businesses across South America continue to prioritise physical meetings, reinforcing demand for corporate air travel throughout the region.

Corporate Demand become increasingly cost-conscious

LATAM also highlighted noticeable changes in buyer behaviour during 2026.

There are many companies are placing greater emphasis on travel policies and cost management while requesting more detailed travel data to support decision-making. Some organisations have begun revising restrictive travel policies after recognising that hidden operational costs can outweigh apparent savings.

LATAM is working with corporate clients to adapt travel programmes that balance cost efficiency with improved travel experiences for employees.

Delta partnership continues gaining momentum

The airline described its joint venture with Delta Air Lines as a cornerstone of its North and South American corporate strategy.

The partnership now serves more than 250 joint corporate accounts, providing customers with a single point of contact across both airlines. Some of the route additions introduced through the partnership, including:

• Lima – Orlando
• Lima – Salt Lake City
• Buenos Aires – Miami
• Guayaquil – New York

Beyond expanding the network, LATAM said schedules continue to be refined to improve connectivity and provide more convenient travel options between North and South America.

Delta and LATAM offer one of the most extensive combined networks across the Americas, delivering seamless connectivity between the United States and Latin America. Through their partnership, travellers enjoy enhanced benefits, smoother journeys and greater convenience, whether flying for business or leisure, making every trip more connected and efficient.

New Airbus A321XLR expected to expand opportunities

Looking ahead, LATAM confirmed it expects to begin receiving Airbus A321XLR aircraft in the coming months.

The aircraft will enable the airline to operate longer routes while lowering operating costs. The cabins are also expected to feature upgraded premium products, including business suites with direct aisle access, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

LATAM believes the aircraft will improve connectivity for corporate travellers while helping reduce overall journey times on selected routes, with the aircraft expected to play a significant role in the airline’s plans during 2027.

Artificial intelligence reshaping the organisation

Technology remains another major investment area for LATAM.

Rather than simply automating existing workflows, the airline said it is redesigning organisational processes around the customer journey. The executive explained that LATAM is rethinking how departments interact with customers at every touchpoint, with artificial intelligence and analytics supporting that transformation.

The objective is to create a more customer-focused organisation while improving operational efficiency across the airline.

Hundreds of millions invested in premium cabins

LATAM also outlined significant investments aimed at improving the onboard experience.

According to the executive, the airline has invested more than US$360 million in new business-class suites featuring sliding doors, 18-inch screens and flat beds. Retrofit work across the widebody fleet is continuing following positive customer feedback.

The airline has also invested more than US$100 million in a new Premium Economy cabin scheduled to launch next year.

In addition, LATAM said nearly all narrowbody aircraft already offer Wi-Fi connectivity, while installation on widebody aircraft is now underway.

Customer expectations continue to rise

Reflecting on more than 17 years with the airline, the executive said the biggest shift has been the growing expectations of corporate customers.

We previously had around 55,000 employees, but today our workforce stands at approximately 42,000 to 43,000. During the pandemic, that number fell to just over 20,000 employees, but we have since rebuilt the organisation while continuing to grow. Throughout this transformation, our focus has remained on creating a more agile organisation centred on people. We closely monitor our Organisational Health Index, and the results have exceeded our expectations, reinforcing that investing in our people has been a key driver of our success. We have also restructured the organisation to better align with the corporate customer journey, ensuring that every part of the business is focused on delivering a stronger and more seamless customer experience.

Business travellers today expect faster access to detailed information, greater transparency and more reliable travel experiences than they did fifteen years ago. Companies increasingly expect airlines to ensure travellers arrive on time and have seamless journeys, placing greater emphasis on operational reliability and customer communication.

LATAM’s organisational transformation following the pandemic has helped create a more agile company while maintaining a strong focus on employees and organisational health.

Building a stronger global presence

Discussing LATAM’s international growth, the executive noted that while the airline naturally benefits from being headquartered in Chile, expanding internationally requires greater investment in customer relationships and partnerships.

The company continues to strengthen engagement with corporate clients across global markets while working with technology partners and other distribution channels to ensure customers receive the same level of service regardless of location.

The executive added that customer satisfaction scores and international recognition have reinforced LATAM’s ambition to position itself as a leading global airline.

Concluding the interview, Mauricio Veloso, VP, Corporate Sales & Strategy at LATAM Airlines thanked attendees and welcomed the opportunity to engage with Travel And Tour World during GBTA Convention 2026 in Chicago.

About LATAM Airlines

LATAM Airlines Group is the largest airline group in Latin America, headquartered in Santiago, Chile, and was formed in 2012 through the merger of LAN Airlines and TAM Airlines. It operates an extensive network of more than 160 destinations across South America, North America, Europe, Oceania, Africa and the Caribbean with a modern fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The airline is focused on expanding corporate travel, premium services, fleet modernisation, digital transformation and sustainability. Its strategic joint venture with Delta Air Lines strengthens connectivity between North and South America, while ongoing investments in premium cabins, Wi-Fi, artificial intelligence and customer experience continue to support its long-term growth strategy and global competitiveness.

About GBTA 2026

The GBTA Convention 2026, held from 3–5 August 2026 at McCormick Place in Chicago, is the 57th annual gathering of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and the world’s premier event for the business travel industry. Bringing together more than 5,000 travel professionals, including corporate travel buyers, airlines, hotels, travel management companies, technology providers and industry leaders, the convention serves as a global platform for networking, education and business development. Through keynote sessions, expert-led discussions, educational programmes and a dynamic exhibition floor, attendees explore the latest trends in corporate travel, artificial intelligence, sustainability, traveller experience and digital transformation. The event fosters collaboration between buyers and suppliers while showcasing innovative products and services that are shaping the future of global business travel, making it one of the industry’s most influential annual conferences.

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