LATAM Airlines Group will grow its fleet to 410 aircraft by the end of 2026, adding more than 40 next-generation jets since the start of its renewal plan and keeping it among the world’s 12 largest airline fleets and South America’s biggest.
LATAM Airlines Group took delivery of 13 next-gen aircraft in the first half of 2026 and expects a further 28 before year-end, lifting its operating fleet to a projected 410 aircraft.
The first-half deliveries included seven Airbus A320neos, four Airbus A321neos and two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which the group said will improve operational efficiency while expanding connectivity between South America and the rest of the world.
For the first time, second-half deliveries will also include the Embraer E190-E2, earmarked to strengthen the group’s domestic network in Brazil and serve a broader range of markets with greater operational flexibility.
LATAM will also keep receiving Airbus A320neo, Airbus A321neo and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft throughout the second half of 2026.
For Aussie travellers, LATAM is the main gateway carrier into and across South America, including its direct daily route from Melbourne to Santiago, and a larger, newer fleet points to more capacity and connectivity into the continent’s domestic and regional networks.
LATAM Airlines Group Vice President of Fleet & Projects Sebastián Acuto said: “Fleet renewal is one of the most important investments we are making as a group because it allows us to grow more efficiently and better meet the region’s connectivity needs. South America has domestic markets with tremendous growth potential and having a more flexible and diversified fleet gives us the capabilities we need to capture those opportunities.”
What comes next for the network
The renewal plan continues in 2027 with the delivery of the group’s first Airbus A321XLR, allowing it to expand its medium-haul nonstop network and create new connectivity across South America.
LATAM expects to add up to 130 additional aircraft from multiple sources by the end of the decade with next-gen jets making up more than 50 per cent of its fleet by 2030.
The emissions reduction of these aircraft is projected at between 20 and 25 per cent compared with previous-generation models, supporting its target of net-zero emissions by 2050.
South America’s largest airline operates across five domestic markets in the region: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, alongside international services to Oceania, Europe, Africa, the US and the Caribbean.
KARRYON UNPACKS: For South America itineraries, LATAM’s newer fleet will land smoother onward connections once clients land in Santiago, Lima or Sao Paulo. The continued investment in the Australia and New Zealand market means more reliable capacity into a region that increasingly attracts Aussie and Kiwi travellers.
