LATAM has extended current flights suspensions until the end of May, stating that the effects of the coronavirus crisis “are deeper and will be longer lasting than we initially anticipated”.

The South American carrier reduced capacity during April by 95 per cent, with no services to Europe, and this will now be extended into May.

The airline says that it will continue to operate reduced domestic flights to maintain minimum connectivity levels in Brazil and Chile, and next month will offer six weekly frequencies between Santiago and Miami, and three weekly frequencies between Sao Paulo and Miami.

The group said it will will continue to operate international humanitarian flights and charters, “subject to requirement, legal restrictions and evaluation”, and it has also increased cargo capacity “to support import-exports and the transport of essential goods and supplies”.

Commenting on the news Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group, said:

“A month and a half since various industry players signalled the greatest crisis the sector has ever faced, today we can see that its effects are deeper and will be longer lasting than we initially anticipated.

“Faced with this adversity, it is inevitable that the group and its affiliates need to rethink their sizes and how they operate.”

latam.com