Brazil to South Africa route returns after three years

LATAM is set to resume flights from Brazil to South Africa in July 2023. Photo: Trevor Carl / flickr

South American carrier, LATAM Airlines, has just announced the resumption of their Brazil to South Africa route, after three long years.

LATAM is set to resume flights from Brazil to South Africa in July 2023. Photo: Trevor Carl / flickr

LATAM to fly Brazil to South Africa

LATAM Airlines has confirmed that it will soon resume its commercial route between São Paulo, Brazil, and Johannesburg, South Africa. This route resumption comes after a three-year COVID-19-induced break, says Travel News.

The airline said in a statement over the weekend that the Brazil to South Africa route would resume in July 2023, with three weekly flights using the airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

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Aline Mafra, LATAM Brazil’s Sales and Marketing Director, said that Johannesburg was another milestone in their international resumption movement.

“This flight will serve a corporate demand that has always been relevant between the countries, in addition to the tourism potential of the destination. A direct operation between the countries will undoubtedly be a differentiated product in the airline market,” Mafra said.

Mafra also pointed out that the addition of 22 new international destinations – which come on the heels of a major domestic route restructuring – brings LATAM to 72% of its pre-COVID routes.

“By December 2022, LATAM’s international routes will be up to 82% of those recorded in December 2019,” Mafra added.

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A boost for tourism recovery

Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, told Travel News that Brazil and Argentina were key source markets for South Africa and this route resumption would indeed go a long way towards boosting tourism recovery in the country.

Tshivhengwa added that the move by the carrier signalled confidence in South Africa as a tourism destination and would be a massive boost for the tourism industry, which had been hard hit by the pandemic.

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Sundeeka Mungroo

Sundeeka Mungroo is a content writer, foodie and all-round adventure-seeker. She's a graduate of the University of South Africa with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature, and has worked as a copywriter and editor in the digital marketing industry. Sundeeka currently writes for I Love South Africa and The South African. She lives in the beautiful Mother City and loves exploring all that South Africa has to offer.