The world's most punctual airline in 2019 was............................................Aeroflot

Aeroflot

Cirium has just revealed the world’s most on-time airlines and airports during 2019 - with the Russian carrier Aeroflot named as the world’s most punctual mainline airline and Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International is the world’s most on-time airport

Cirium’s On-Time Performance Review 2019 also awards 

Aeroflot the most punctual European airline

Runners-up include All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Delta Air Lines, 

with Delta the most on-time airline in North America

The most on-time global network airline is LATAM Airlines

The most on-time Low-Cost Carrier is Japan’s StarFlyer

        Russia’s Aeroflot has been named as the world’s most on-time mainline airline in the annual On-Time Performance (OTP) Review released today by travel data and analytics expert Cirium.

The OTP Review identifies the world’s best-performing airlines and airports for on-time flight operations in 2019. According to the long-running analysis by Cirium, which provides the definitive ranking of the top ten most on-time airlines and airports globally, by size and region, 86.7 per cent of Aeroflot’s flights operated on time in 2019.

Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) came in second place with 86.3 per cent of its flights on time. Last year’s winner, Delta Air Lines, took third place in the global category with 85.7 per cent of flights arriving on time but topped the ranking in the North America category in both mainline and network*.

Meanwhile, Latin American airline LATAM clinches top ranking of the global network airline category with 86.7 per cent of the flights in its network arriving on time.

The 2019 Review also reveals that the most punctual airline in Europe is also Aeroflot. In the Asia Pacific, ANA takes top spot; Copa Airlines is most on time in Latin America; and in the Middle East and Africa, Qatar Airways beats Emirates to top ranking.

Japanese airline StarFlyer is named the world’s most punctual low-cost carrier with 91.4 per cent of flights arriving on-schedule**.

Cirium’s OTP Review also identifies the world’s most punctual airport, with Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International (SVO) operating the most on-schedule departing flights, with 95 per cent being on time.

Delta completes tender offer to purchase shares in LATAM

Delta Air Lines has successfully completed its previously announced tender offer and has acquired a 20 percent equity stake in LATAM Airlines Group S.A for approximately $1.9 billion., an important milestone toward bringing together the leading airlines in North and South America. This investment continues Delta’s strategy of making equity investments in key airline partners around the globe.

Delta Air Lines has successfully acquired a 20 percent equity stake in LATAM Airlines Group S.A for approximately $1.9 billion.

“We look forward to working with LATAM to create a truly world-class partnership that will give our customers unparalleled access throughout the Americas,” said Steve Sear, Delta President — International and Executive Vice President — Global Sales. “Equity investments like this help create alignment within our partnerships as we bring together our brands, enabling us to provide the very best service and reliability for our shared customers.”

Delta accused or dirty tricks over LATAM purchase

Many in the US aviation industry have accused the US mega-carrier of dirty tricks following the recent announcement of 20% buyout of LATAM Airlines and demanding it cut ties with American Airlines.

In a recently press release issued by Delta, it stated it knew of LATAM passengers who had purchased tickets under their former partnership with American were being denied travel.  It said it would now accommodate those passengers and would allow routing changes to get those passengers to their final destination. 

Yet,  American isn't cancelling those tickets, "American is not aware of any customers of American or LATAM who are being denied travel. We are accepting customers and baggage of ticketed LATAM customers who are scheduled to fly on American, and LATAM continues to accept our customers per our current agreements that are still intact."

Delta and LATAM Airlines enter into strategic partnership

The partnership brings together the leading airlines in North America and Latin America, connecting the Americas to the world as never before

Together, Delta and LATAM will hold the leading position in five of the top six Latin American markets from the U.S.

Together, the partners will serve 435 destinations worldwide and carry more passengers between North America and Latin America than any other partnership

Customers will benefit from significantly expanded travel choices across the Americas and an industry leading customer experience

Delta and LATAM Airlines Group have announced that they have entered into a strategic partnership which according to the Delta chief Ed Bastian, is "A transformative partnership with LATAM will bring together our leading global brands, enabling us to provide the very best service and reliability for travellers to, from and throughout the Americas,” said “Our people, customers, owners and communities will all benefit from this exciting platform for future growth.”

“This alliance with Delta strengthens our company and enhances our leadership in Latin America by providing the best connectivity through our highly complementary route networks,” said Enrique Cueto Plaza, chief executive officer of LATAM. “We look forward to working alongside one of the world’s best airlines to enhance the travel experience for our passengers.”

The airline' says this strategic partnership will unlock new growth opportunities, building upon Delta’s and LATAM’s global footprint and joint ventures worldwide, including Delta’s existing partnership with Aeroméxico. With their complementary networks, Delta, LATAM and their partners will be able to offer access to a greatly expanded array of worldwide destinations. Together, the partnership will provide greater customer convenience, a more seamless travel experience and better connect customers with the rest of the world.

Additional details of the partnership include:

Finnair and LATAM Airlines Group launch codeshare partnership, opening access to South America for Finnair customers

The well respected European carrier Finnair has signed a new codeshare deal with Latin America's leading airline LATAM today.

The deal includes flights between Finnair’s hub in Helsinki (HEL) and LATAM’s hubs in São Paulo (GRU), Brazil, and in Santiago (SCL), Chile, via five European gateways: London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Madrid (MAD), Barcelona (BCN) and Milan (MXP).  

As part of the codeshare agreement, Finnair’s AY code will be added to LATAM’s transatlantic flights between Finnair’s gateways in Europe and LATAM’s hubs in São Paulo and in Santiago. The cooperation will offer new destinations for Finnair customers, as LATAM’s flights will be the first ones flown to South America with a Finnair code. 

LATAM Airlines shows off its new Premium Business cabin

One of the leading Latin American airlines has lifted the curtains on a new premium business class experience.

LATAM Airlines Group presented its new Premium Business experience in São Paulo earlier this week, on the first Boeing 777 that incorporates the company's renewed cabins.

The new cabins are part of a transformation of the travel experience offered by the growing carrier as they continue with a $400 million cabin renovation programme.

The launch took place at the airlines Manutenção em Linha Center (CML) which is the company's largest maintenance complex located at the São Paulo / Guarulhos International Airport.

LATAM also revealed more details of its new service and food concept of the Premium Business class, which it says will provide more rest, comfort and privacy so that customers can reach their destination renewed and refreshed.  "We constantly listen to our customers, and we know they want more options, flexibility and customization to choose how to fly according to their needs. We are investing more than half a billion dollars in cabin renovation, digital tools and improving our service to fulfil this vision. of service and give each client the travel experience they are looking for, ” said Paulo Miranda, Vice President of Customers of LATAM Airlines Group.

LATAM ranked as the most punctual airline group in the world for second consecutive month

LATAM Airlines Group was ranked as the most punctual airline group in the world in July 2019 by aviation data services consultant FlightStats. This is the third month in 2019 that the carrier has placed first in the ‘Global Airlines’ category.

In July, which coincided with the peak seasons in South America and the northern hemisphere, 86.73% of close to 44,000 LATAM flights arrived within 14 minutes of their scheduled itinerary.

LATAM also led FlightStats’ global punctuality ranking in April and June 2019.

“We understand that punctuality is one of the most important factors in the travel experience of our passengers. LATAM’s historic results in recent months are the product of a range of initiatives that we have been implementing, from new working methods that prioritize execution and operational excellence, to a new boarding process. We will keep striving to ensure our passengers’ flights continue to depart and arrive on time”, said Hernán Pasman, Vice President of Operations, LATAM Airlines Group.

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LATAM Airlines Group announces successful bond issue in Chile

 LATAM Airlines Group,  Latin America's leading airline group, successfully issued a bond in Chile's capital market as part of a Dutch auction, a first for LATAM on the Santiago Stock exchange, Bolsa de Comercio de Santiago.

The transaction was achieved with attractive conditions and a risk rating of "BBB+" by Feller-Rate and Fitch for the approved line. On this occasion, it was placed under Series E for 5.0 million Unidades de Fomento (UF) over 10 years, with capital payment due on DATE (bullet) and a monthly interest payment at a placement rate of 2.73%, representing a spread of 201 basis points over the reference rate, running 67 basis points during the auction regarding the subscription rate.

The transaction was completed in a context of favourable market conditions, taking advantage of lower interest rates and high liquidity, in addition to strong interest from institutional clients. As a result, the Series E was received with surplus -demand, approximately 2.0 times greater, mainly consisting of pension funds and mutual funds among others.

Credicorp Capital and Santander were the financial advisers and placing agents for the transaction.

LATAM Airlines Group: Reports preliminary monthly statistics for April 2019

                         LATAM Airlines Group and its subsidiaries,  the leading airline group in Latin America, today reported its preliminary monthly traffic statistics for April 2019 compared with the same period of 2018.

System passenger traffic (measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK)) increased 8.0%, while capacity rose by 8.0%. As a result, the Company's load factor for the month fell 0.1 percentage points to 83.3%. The 30.1% increase in capacity in Spanish-speaking domestic markets (Domestic SSC) is mainly explained by the strike in Chile last year. Excluding Chile, Domestic SSC capacity rose 10.4%, in line with the rise of the first three months of the year. International passenger traffic accounted for approximately 58% of the month's total passenger traffic.

Emirates and LATAM form codeshare partnership on 17 Brazilian routes

                           The Dubai based airline Emirates has confirmed today that it has reached a special codeshare partnership deal with the Brazilian airline LATAM.

The partnership means that Emirates passengers travelling to and from Brazil will now be able to connect with 17 cities in LATAM’s domestic network covered by the codeshare agreement including Belo Horizonte, Brasília and Foz do Iguaçu (more details below). Passengers travelling to/from these cities will now be able to connect seamlessly in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro with Emirates’ flights to its Dubai hub, which serves over 150 destinations worldwide.

The agreement will offer Emirates passengers more choice to travel to/from Brazil with minimum connection times to destinations in Emirates’ global network such as Japan, Australia and India amongst others.

LATAM partner with a blogging family.......

LATAM Airlines one of the leading carriers in Latin America is helping special family travel with throughout the South American region, checking off places from their bucket list at some of the most popular destinations in the region.

The Bucket List Family, a family of five, including three small children, who travel the world together documenting and sharing their adventures. In addition to the flights, LATAM is bridging a partnership between The Bucket List Family and TECHO, a nonprofit organization that seeks to overcome the poverty situation that millions of people live in across Latin America through the joint work of its inhabitants and young volunteers.

Passenger numbers up for LATAM

LATAM Airlines Group, the leading airline group in Latin America, reported its preliminary monthly traffic statistics for January 2019 earlier this week.

System passenger traffic increased by 5.1%, while capacity rose 6.1%. As a result, the Company's load factor for the month fell 0.8 percentage points to 85.5%. International passenger traffic accounted for approximately 57% of the month's total passenger traffic.

LATAM reports December 2018 results

LATAM Airlines, the leading airline group in Latin America, today reported its preliminary monthly traffic statistics for December 2018 compared with the same period of 2017.

System passenger traffic increased 5.5%, while capacity rose by 6.2%. As a result, the Company's load factor for the month fell 0.6 percentage points to 83.5%. International passenger traffic accounted for approximately 56% of the month's total passenger traffic.    

LATAM Airlines recognised as the world’s most punctual airline in 2018

LATAM Airlines Group was the named in the 2018 Official Airline Guide (OAG) as the most punctual ‘Mega Airline’, which compares the largest 20 operators in terms of scheduled flights

LATAM Airlines Group, Latin America’s leader in passenger and cargo transport, has placed first in the ‘Mega Airlines’ category of the Official Airline Guide (OAG), which ranks the punctuality of major airlines worldwide based on arrival times. LATAM received this recognition after operating 85.6% of its flights on-time during 2018.

“At LATAM, passengers are our first priority and we understand that punctuality is the most important factor in their travel experience. For this reason, we work continuously to monitor and improve our on-time performance so that – combined with our unrivalled network of destinations in the region – we continue to be the best travel option in Latin America,” said Enrique Cueto, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group.

LATAM Airlines Group reports preliminary monthly statistics for November 2018

From Santiago, Chile, LATAM Airlines Group has released its preliminary monthly traffic statistics for November 2018 compared with the same period of 2017.

System passenger traffic increased 5.1%, while capacity rose by 6.4%. As a result, the Company's load factor for the month fell 1.1 percentage points to 83.2%. International passenger traffic accounted for approximately 55% of the month's total passenger traffic.    

LATAM's profits down

The biggest airline group in Latin America, LATAM Airlines released its latest figures which showed a big fall profit, down to $53 million for the third quarter, as opposed to  $160 million a year earlier.

The carrier says the reasons for the massive dip in profits include much lower passenger demand in both Argentina and Brazil, higher fuel prices and competition from low-cost airlines.  In October the airline saw passenger traffic increase by 1.5%, while capacity rose by 7.0%. As a result, the Company's load factor for the month fell 4.4 percentage points to 82.5%. International passenger traffic accounted for approximately 56% of the month's total passenger traffic.

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Award for LATAM

LATAM Airlines Group was named in the 'World' category of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for a fifth consecutive year, earlier this week.

The DJSI World comprises the leading 10% of companies in the 'S&P Global Broad Market Index' in terms of sustainability, based on an annual independent assessment of economic, social and environmental criteria. LATAM is the only airline group in the Americas listed in this category. 

"Businesses have to think and act sustainably to deliver value both today and in the long-term for customers, shareholders, partners and the communities in which they operate. For LATAM for example, this means advocating sustainable tourism and supporting relief efforts in the event of natural disasters in the region," said Enrique Cueto, CEO, LATAM Airlines Group. "To be recognized as one of the world's leading airline groups in this field for a fifth year running is the culmination of a company-wide commitment to incorporating sustainable practices into every aspect of how we operate.".

(Photo LATAM aircraft welcomed to Lisbon Airport - LATAM)

August results for LATAM

LATAM Airlines Group reported its preliminary monthly traffic statistics for August 2018 this week, which showed system passenger traffic increased 2.7%, while capacity rose by 6.3%. As a result, the company's load factor for the month fell 2.8 percentage points to 81.6%. International passenger traffic accounted for approximately 58% of the month's total passenger traffic.

LATAM Airlines has one of the largest route networks in the world, offering air services to around 143 destinations in 26 countries, and is present in six domestic markets in Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, in addition to its international operations in Latin America, Europe, the United States, the Caribbean, Oceania and Africa. It has a fleet of around 315 aircraft that have an average age of seven years and features modern craft like the Boeing 787, Airbus A350 and A320neo.

Recently the airline recieved a colourful welcome from the airport fire service at Lisbon Airport following the inaugural service from São Paulo/Guarulhos.

Colourful welcome to Lisbon for LATAM

The airport fire service at Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport gave a colourful welcome to a LATAM Airlines Group Boeing 767 operating the carriers first new service to the airport.

The arrival of flight JJ8178 marked the start of a five times a week service from São Paulo/Guarulhos from the Brazilian side of LATAM. The new link will continue to be operated by a Boeing 767 aircraft, featuring 30 seats in business class and 191 seats in economy. 

“Portugal offers a mix between the contemporary and traditional that enchants and surprises even those who are already familiar with the country,” said Jerome Cadier, chief executive, LATAM Airlines Brazil. Marking LATAM’s eighth destination in Europe, our arrival in Lisbon once again demonstrates our commitment to offering unrivalled connectivity between South America and the world.”

LATAM axe 1200 ground jobs

LATAM is going to dismiss some 1,200 airport-based staff in Brazil and replace them with workers from a services company to cut costs it has been revealed this week. 

The airline confirmed there would be redundancies but hasn't specified the exact number,  would not give an exact number. A union representing the employees said that employee terminations would become effective next week. 

LATAM advised “The company has adopted measures so the change will have the least impact possible on workers.  Still, there will be a reduction” in the number of employees.  The employees affected work at Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro airports in the baggage and ground handling departments. LATAM has gone with Orbital to handle ground operations including baggage from next week onwards.