Of the 24 aircraft that underwent retrofitting, 10 are Boeing 787-8s, which operate international and domestic flights in Chile, and 14 are Boeing 787-9s, which operate both international and domestic flights in Chile, Brazil, and Peru.
Latam Airlines has begun operating its first aircraft to incorporate original and renovated cabins, featuring Recaro R7 suites in Premium Business, as part of a US$360 million renovation of 24 Boeing 787 aircraft announced last September.
Of the 24 aircraft that underwent retrofitting, 10 are Boeing 787-8s, which operate international and domestic flights in Chile, and 14 are Boeing 787-9s, which operate both international and domestic flights in Chile, Brazil, and Peru.
The complete refurbishment process for the 24 aircraft is being carried out at the maintenance bases in São Carlos, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile. Installation is estimated to be completed in the second half of 2026. This is because each retrofit requires one to two months, depending on the improvements made.
These new facilities offer greater comfort and privacy, with sliding doors and designs inspired by the natural beauty of South America, making LATAM Airlines the first airline in South America to offer this new experience.
In addition to the Premium Business cabins, the renovation also extends to the Economy seats, which will feature state-of-the-art seats, ergonomically designed to provide more space and comfort, in-flight entertainment, and design enhancements.
These aircraft debuted on the Santiago-Mexico route, departing from Chile at 8:10 a.m. on April 26. Two more aircraft subsequently entered service on the Santiago-Bogotá and Santiago-Miami routes, on May 3 and 6, respectively.
In the future, the three 787-8 aircraft, all based in Chile, will continue to operate routes from Santiago to Easter Island (Chile), Bogotá (Colombia), Madrid (Spain), Miami, New York and Los Angeles (United States).
"Continuously seeking to modernize our fleet and elevate the flight experience in South America, Latam Airlines is proud to be the first group in the region to innovate Premium Business with the addition of doors in our seats. This initiative offers our passengers an unprecedented level of privacy and comfort," said Paulo Miranda, Vice President of Customers for Latam Airlines Group.
WORLD-CLASS SUITES AND APARTMENTS
Premium Business Suites are completely private, with sliding doors and seats that convert into beds; they also have direct access to the aisle, shoe compartments, storage space, and USB-A and USB-C charging ports. For entertainment, each suite includes an 18-inch high-definition screen.
Economy seats, meanwhile, feature state-of-the-art, ergonomic seats with more space and comfort. They are upholstered with up to 70% recycled leather—already used in narrow-body aircraft—a material that reduces the amount of water used in its production by 87% compared to regular leather.
Passengers will also be able to travel more comfortably in Economy Plus seats, which offer more footroom, greater recline, footrests, and a dedicated luggage area.
