LATAM continues to work on its aircraft interiors and has now announced an investment of more than $350 million to refurbish over 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Some of these planes will fly in the domestic Chilean market, whereas others will operate flights out of the greater South American region.
Huge refurbishment project
LATAM
will invest $360 million to refurbish 24 Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet to improve the overall passenger experience. The project involves completely changing the cabin interiors with new seats, entertainment options, and design tweaks.
Out of the 24 planes that will go for a refit, 10 will be Boeing 787-8 to be used exclusively for domestic services in Chile. The rest of the aircraft are all 787-9s, which will fly out of Chile, Brazil, and Peru.
Photo: LATAM
These upgrades will take place at maintenance bases in São Carlos, Brazil, and Santiago. The first of these 24 airplanes is expected to begin commercial flights in March 2025, and the entire project is scheduled to wrap up by the middle of 2026.
Premium cabin
The airline’s Premium Business cabin will have the new Recaro R7 Suite seat, which LATAM claims will offer greater privacy, personal space, and comfort for passengers. In fact, this enhancement makes LATAM the first airline group in South America to offer this level of privacy in premium cabin seats. Dr. Mark Hiller, CEO of RECARO Aircraft Seating and RECARO Holding, commented,
“Our close collaboration with LATAM has resulted in a truly unique seat for their Business Class passengers. The R7 model offers premium comfort, elevates privacy to a new level, and will be a standout addition to their fleet and the South American market.”
Photo: LATAM
What to expect in economy and premium economy?
The airline says that the economy seats have been ergonomically designed to provide more space and comfort and those in Economy Plus will offer more legroom, greater recline, footrests, and exclusive luggage space.
Like the seats in business, those in premium economy will also use 70% recycled leather in upholstery. This material has already been used in most other narrowbody planes in the LATAM fleet. The airline is playing its role for the environment and says that the upholstery reduces water utilization by 87% for the production of this material, as opposed to that needed for regular leather.
Photo: Tobias Arhelger | Shutterstock
In terms of onboard entertainment, the airline promises its economy passengers the region’s largest content library, which will have more than 240 movies, 740 TV show episodes, 1,500 music tracks, and exclusive content from Max, Paramount+, and Disney+.
Passengers can view these options on new 12-inch high-definition touchscreens that can be connected via Bluetooth. Paulo Miranda, VP of Customers at LATAM Airlines Group, commented,
“With a design that reflects the unique essence of the LATAM Group and attention to the finest details, our new cabins have been created to offer a world-class travel experience. The new Premium Business seats mark a significant leap forward, combining comfort, privacy, and elegance. These renovations position LATAM as a leader in the industry, providing our passengers with an unprecedented level of comfort and an exclusive flying experience.”