LATAM Sao Paulo Cape Town route is shaping into one of the most notable long-haul additions planned for South American aviation in 2026. LATAM Brazil has confirmed that it will launch direct flights between Sao Paulo Guarulhos and Cape Town starting September 2026. The flights will operate three times weekly using Boeing 787 aircraft and form part of a wider global expansion from the airline’s Brazilian hub.
The announcement was delivered alongside new intercontinental services to Amsterdam in April 2026 and Brussels in June 2026. Both European routes are expected to run three weekly frequencies from Guarulhos, also on the 787 fleet. The added capacity signals an international growth plan aimed at connecting Brazil more directly to key global markets without heavy reliance on partner airlines or secondary hubs.
The Cape Town link builds on LATAM’s existing operation into South Africa. Johannesburg remains an established destination for the airline and serves as a strategic point for regional partnerships and onward travel across southern Africa. LATAM resumed Sao Paulo Johannesburg service in July 2023 and later increased frequencies to respond to consistent passenger volumes. The new Cape Town flights will complement rather than replace Johannesburg, creating two separate entry points for travel between South America and South Africa.
The wider plan positions Sao Paulo Guarulhos as the central hub for LATAM’s intercontinental network. Cape Town, Amsterdam and Brussels represent new long-haul corridors that align with demand trends, tourism flows and commercial analysis from LATAM’s planning division. The airline stated that the decision to launch these routes reflects practical demand forecasting rather than experimental expansion. All newly confirmed international flights will be operated with the 787 to support fuel efficiency, range requirements and cabin consistency across long-haul markets.
Cape Town offers a distinct travel profile for LATAM’s South Africa strategy. While Johannesburg attracts corporate and regional traffic, Cape Town provides strong inbound tourism potential and diversified business activity across trade, culture and media sectors. A direct connection from Brazil may support improved tourism flows, cargo opportunities and bilateral commercial ties between the two countries. It also enables travelers to bypass traditional transfer points in Africa, Europe or the Middle East.
In addition to long-haul expansion, LATAM will grow its domestic network in Brazil through four newly confirmed destinations scheduled for 2026. These new stops will increase domestic coverage to 63 airports and reinforce feeder traffic into Guarulhos. The carrier expects its domestic and international expansions to function as a unified connectivity strategy rather than separate operating plans.
Jerome Cadier, CEO of LATAM Brazil, highlighted that the new routes reflect both business logic and measurable demand. He emphasized that planning decisions were evaluated against real travel patterns and aligned to fleet availability. The expansion strengthens LATAM’s role as a long-haul competitor from Brazil and continues a broader effort to increase connectivity between Latin America and overseas markets.
Operations for the LATAM Sao Paulo Cape Town route will begin in September 2026 with three weekly frequencies. Amsterdam flights will begin in April 2026 and Brussels flights in June 2026. Domestic route additions include Uberaba, Juiz de Fora, Caldas Novas and Campina Grande. Once these additions go live, LATAM will serve 28 international destinations directly from Brazil.
