Demand will be high, more flights will be in operation but how does South America’s largest airline, LATAM, plan on managing all that extra Olympic Games capacity while assuring on-time services and safety?
With 100 special operational initiatives.
The carrier this week officially kicked-off its special operation for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games designed to serve sports fans and delegations travelling to and from Brazil throughout August and September.
So what are some of these special operational initiatives?
Well, in the case of flight cancellations, disruptions or any other potential impact to services, a Special Control Centre is operating 24/7 at Brazil’s airport throughout the event. Staff there will be responsible for coordinating contingencies and find rapid solutions for passengers during the games.
The Paralympic Care team will concentrate on assisting flow for passengers with disabilities. They’ll utilise the available platform lifts and protection equipment to create a convenient airport experience for passengers with personal wheelchairs.
Flexibility for athletes has been created through advance passenger and baggage check-in at the Olympic and Paralympic Village with special identification for items.
A LATAM Passenger Guide will assist passengers in three languages (Portuguese, Spanish and English). The guide will provide instructions to make the trip easy and simply.
Plus the airline has positioned six additional aircraft at Brazil’s busiest airports to be used on some of the 150 extra domestic LATAM flights scheduled for the Games.
“We are ready to provide fast service to athletes, take care of all passengers, accommodate special cargo and coordinate mass departures and arrivals, which will be concentrated in specific days and in a single city.”
Eduardo Costa, LATAM Airlines Brazil Services and Innovation Director
LATAM Airlines is expecting to serve around 2 percent of the public using air travel to the games. Of the 4,500 Paralympic athletes, 30 percent are expected to travel on LATAM aircraft.
