LATAM Airlines is certified with the 4-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating
by Skytrax: London, UK
LATAM Airlines Group has been recognised by Skytrax, the airline industry’s leading accreditation organization for COVID-19 safe travel, obtaining a 4-Star COVID-19 Safety Rating. LATAM is the only airline in South America to have achieved this category. The Skytrax COVID-19 Airline Safety Accreditation is regarded as a global benchmark for evaluating COVID-19 safe travel.
The COVID-19 Safety Audit was conducted by Skytrax in April 2021 and assessed all safety and hygiene protocols introduced by LATAM during COVID-19 to enhance customer and staff safety. The COVID-19 Safety Rating evaluates front-line facilities and service to determine how effectively and consistently COVID-19 procedures are being provided, including airport and onboard cleanliness, hygiene and disinfection procedures, standard and usage conformity of staff PPE, Covid signage and information, application of social distancing, hand sanitiser facilities, PA guidance, organisation and control of passenger flows, applying face mask usage and adapted service systems in the airport and onboard flights.
“This recognition highlights our enhanced safety and hygiene measures in the context of the global health crisis of COVID-19,” said Paulo Miranda, Vice President for Clients of LATAM Airlines Group. “Our customers can experience peace of mind while flying, confident that LATAM is adopting all the recommendations of health organizations, and even pioneering initiatives that reinforce its cleaning and prevention standards in all phases of the customer journey.”
LATAM Airlines has cooperated with airport operators in many countries to ensure that COVID-19 safe measures are well communicated to passengers, and social distancing and one-way movement systems are in place. Where necessary, LATAM has introduced branded signage and increased the quantity and visibility of hand sanitiser systems.
Edward Plaisted of Skytrax said: “LATAM Airlines has a large footprint in the Latin American travel market and has had to enact COVID-19 safe travel systems based on a range of global standards and various national governments where it has hub operations. Given the scope of the network, we are impressed with the level of consistency that LATAM has managed to achieve in terms of safe handling systems for passengers in each airport, and similarly, the enhanced procedures for sanitising airport and onboard environments are also highly praised.”
LATAM Airlines COVID-19 Airline Safety
From check-in to arrival, LATAM has a range of controls in place to effectively monitor the correct use of masks, encourage customers to conduct appropriate personal hygiene, and observe physical distancing. Boarding and deplaning systems have been adapted to increase space for passengers, and the processes are well managed by staff in the airport and onboard each flight.
The LATAM lounge has introduced a range of protection measures which includes enhanced physical distancing of seating, one-way movement systems, hand sanitisers, and PPE disposal. The buffet service has been suspended, and staff serve pre-packaged items on request, and most seating is sanitised after each guest use.
Onboard product and service factors are subject to some regional variation depending on the country of departure and arrival, but again, LATAM has robust controls to ensure that the objectives are achieved. Importantly, cleaning and disinfection measures for aircraft seats and frequently touched surfaces are consistent from each airport, and in addition to increasing the frequency and scale of sanitisation, LATAM has introduced UV cleaning systems and is testing long-lasting anti-viral technologies.
At baggage reclaim, passengers will notice LATAM staff applying disinfectant to luggage as it arrives on the delivery belt. In addition, there are regular hand sanitising units in the arrival area provided by the airline.
The airport audit assessment covers check-in facilities, airline lounges, boarding and deplaning procedures, baggage claim, arrival, and transfer options. The airport service elements include all airline provided options, not areas under direct control of the airport operator. Aside from the cleanliness objective, this evaluates the airline service processes for reducing customer and staff contact where practically possible.
Onboard assessment covers cabin cleanliness, including systems and techniques for cleaning common surface contact areas, customer and staff use of face masks and PPE, and protocols to control this, adapted cabin service procedures including catering, in addition to assessment of amenities and cleanliness of essential comfort items.
The LATAM group has played a relevant role in the logistics and transportation of vaccines to face COVID-19. After the arrival of the first shipments to South America, in December 2020, LATAM offered the authorities of the countries where it has domestic operations, free transport of the doses. To date, the group has mobilized more than 37.5 million doses at no cost.
ABOUT LATAM AIRLINES
LATAM is Latin America’s leading airline group, with presence in five domestic markets in South America: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, along with international operations within Latin America and to Europe, US and the Caribbean. The group operates a fleet including Boeing 787, Airbus A350, A321, A320neo and A319 aircraft, the most modern models of their kind.
The 4-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating recognises good airport processing standards that include some elements of contactless technology, customer handling, and social distancing protocols for check-in, boarding, and arrival. Airline lounges have good cleanliness procedures and consistency, and there are reasonable measures in place that facilitate social distancing and safe delivery systems for food and beverages. Onboard cleanliness and cabin presentation are at a good quality level which may use techniques for UV sanitisation and mass disinfectant treatments which are scientifically evaluated. Most service systems for catering are adapted for COVID-19 times, with some reduced contact delivery and enhanced food safety measures for meal presentation.
ABOUT LATAM AIRLINES GROUP S.A.
LATAM is the principal group of airlines in Latin America present in five domestic markets in the region: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, in addition to international operations inside Latin America and between it and Europe, the United States, and the Caribbean. The group has a fleet of Boeing 767, 777, 787, Airbus A321, A320, A320neo and A319 aircraft. LATAM Cargo Chile, LATAM Cargo Colombia, and LATAM Cargo Brazil are the LATAM Airlines freight subsidiaries. In addition to having access to the passenger cargo holds of LATAM Airlines Group, they have a fleet of 11 freighters, which will gradually increase to a total of up to 21 freighters by 2023. They operate on the LATAM Group network as well as International routes that are solely used for shipping. They offer modern Infrastructure, a wide variety of services and protection options to meet all customer needs.
ABOUT SKYTRAX
Skytrax, the International air transport rating organisation, was established in 1989 and is based in London, United Kingdom. The COVID-19 Airline Safety Ratings provide independent, expert evaluation and certification of airline COVID-19 hygiene and safety measures. This programme is now regarded as the global benchmark for certifying COVID-19 Safe Travel standards.
