LATAM has launched its direct service from London Heathrow to Lima, marking the only direct route from the UK to Peru.
The route launched on 2 December, with the first Peruvian crew to operate a flight between Peru and the UK arriving at Heathrow at 1400.
British Airways previously flew between Gatwick and Lima but cancelled the route after one season. LATAM has now filled its place, with its Peruvian service complimenting its daily flights between Heathrow and Sao Paulo.
Business Traveller was on the inaugural flight to the Peruvian capital, with LATAM kicking off celebrations at the gate with a wonderful musical band, plane-shaped biscuits emblazoned with the airline’s logo and a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The five-times-weekly service operates on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, departing LHR at 2200 and landing in Lima at 0605. The return leg departs Lima at 2100 and arrives into London at 1400 the following day.
The 13 hour service is served by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft configured with 30 seats in Premium Business and 217 seats in economy.
The inaugural flight was attended by the entire LATAM Airlines regional team and Ricardo Romero Talledo, director at Trade Commission of Peru in the UK and Ireland.
Davide Ioppolo, LATAM’s regional commercial director central and Southeast Europe, the UK, Nordic countries and South Africa, told Business Traveller:
“Our best value proposition is that we can fly all over South America. From Lima you can reach 19 destinations in the country and more than 30 international destinations. You can go to Lima and then move to Chile, Brazil and then back to London with a direct flight. If you’re thinking about South America, think about LATAM.”
“It’s also important for Heathrow to have this new route. This is a historical flight, not only for LATAM but for the pilots, for people and for the two countries. This year is the 200th year of bilateral relations between Peru and the UK. There’s no better way to celebrate.”
When asked whether the route will increase to a daily service, he explained:
“You need aircraft to increase frequencies, but it’s not so easy to receive aircraft due to the ongoing delivery delays. You also have to consider moving aircraft on other routes [to free up space] and analyse the demand – is it enough for a daily flight?
“At the moment, five times a week is enough. Daily is too soon of a consideration. We will see in the next four or five months. It’s something we have to do with time.”
Indeed the route was only announced in August, meaning that many Brits had already planned their winter holidays.
Business Traveller also enquired about the lack of premium economy onboard.
“At the moment, analysing our customers and the demand for South America, we consider that there is no need for premium economy. We have premium seats within economy, called LATAM+, with a little bit more comfort, legroom, a specific compartment for luggage and premium boarding. It’s located in the front rows of the economy cabin.”
The flight was largely smooth, although there was an hour delay on the tarmac at Heathrow due to ice conditions as a result of the cold weather in London. As such, we took off at 2255 and landed at 1205 local time.
Ioppolo also spoke of additional routes planned for the next year:
“We’ve been opening up a lot of new routes this year and will do the same next year, especially within countries in South America but also from South America to the US because of the joint venture with Delta…
In terms of Europe, the airline will launch a new route from Madrid to Bogota from July 2024.
And for those wanting to extend their trip, the airline launched a three-times-weekly route from Lima to Aruba on 3 December, with Ioppolo adding: “this is a spectacular way to have time in Peru and then go to the beach, it’s a perfect combination.”
LATAM currently flies to 144 destinations in 24 countries, and offers more than 60 weekly frequencies from Europe.
Business Traveller will be reviewing the Premium Business cabin on the return flight.
