LATAM Airlines to Introduce Premium Economy Cabin on Long-Haul Routes
The project involves an interior modernization to incorporate wider seats with greater recline. The new cabin will be positioned between business and economy classes, offering an intermediate product on the airline's wide-body fleet.
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LATAM Airlines Group is preparing to introduce a new class of service on its long-haul international flights: Premium Economy. This development positions the company as a pioneer in South America in adopting an intermediate cabin, a well-established product among major airlines in Europe, North America, and Asia.
The confirmation came from Aline Mafra, Director of Sales and Marketing for LATAM Brazil, during an interview with the news outlet Poder360. Mafra explained that the launch is a natural progression of the company's strategy to invest in higher-value-added services. This strategy already includes the implementation of Wi-Fi connectivity across its domestic fleet in Brazil and the ongoing modernization of its aircraft interiors.
The new Premium Economy cabin will be positioned as an intermediate product between Business Class and Economy Class. Unlike the "Space+" seats, which offer more legroom but retain the same seat as standard economy, the Premium Economy will feature a completely different seat design. These seats are expected to offer greater width, a deeper recline, and a row configuration with one less seat, for example, moving from a 3-4-3 layout to a more comfortable 2-4-2 on its Boeing 777s, or from 3-3-3 to 2-3-2 on the Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
What you need to know about LATAM's new cabin
What is it? A new travel class called Premium Economy.
Where will it be available? On long-haul flights operated by wide-body aircraft, such as the Boeing 777 and 787.
What improvements does it offer? Wider seats, deeper recline, and more personal space due to fewer seats per row.
Is it the first in the region? Yes, it would be the first South American airline to offer a dedicated Premium Economy cabin on long-haul flights.
Mafra highlighted that Premium Economy responds to a global trend and growing passenger demand. She stated that the new class "will cater to a growing demand from passengers for an intermediate experience, with more comfort and benefits, without the high costs of upper cabins," integrating her vision of the market niche the company is targeting.
Currently, LATAM's offering on its transoceanic routes consists of a Business Class with full flat-bed seats and a standard Economy Class. The implementation of Premium Economy will require a reconfiguration of part of its long-haul fleet, a complex process that involves certifying a new LOPA (Layout of Passenger Accommodations) for its Boeing aircraft.
This move places LATAM in direct competition with products offered by its partners and competitors in the northern hemisphere, such as Delta Air Lines (with which it has a Joint Venture), Iberia, and British Airways, all of which have well-established Premium Economy cabins on their routes to South America.
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