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In a significant boost to global travel, LATAM Airlines reinitiated its direct service from Melbourne, Australia, to Santiago, Chile, after a hiatus of nearly three and a half years due to pandemic-related disruptions. Flight LA805 touched down at Melbourne Airport at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, carrying 292 passengers warmly welcomed with gifts from the airport and the airline.

Starting immediately, LATAM Airlines operates three weekly flights between Melbourne and Santiago on their Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, accommodating as many as 900 passengers weekly on this sub-13-hour journey.

This move amplifies LATAM’s presence in the Australian market, where they had already restarted operations in March 2022 with thrice-weekly flights from Sydney to Santiago via Auckland. The additional Melbourne service escalates the total number of LATAM flights between Australia and South America to ten per week.

Voices From The Industry.

LATAM Airlines crew with Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus, LATAM Airlines Country Manager Chris Ellis and Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos.

Chris Ellis, LATAM Airlines Country Manager for Oceania, expressed enthusiasm for the resumed route: “With the backing of the Victorian Government and Melbourne Airport, we are poised to satisfy a burgeoning demand for South American travel. LATAM now offers ten weekly flights connecting Australia and this dynamic region, with a weekly seat count exceeding 900.”

Furthermore, Ellis emphasized LATAM’s sector leadership and sustainability goals: “We serve 144 destinations across South America and lead in sustainable initiatives. Our goal for this year is to phase out single-use plastics, aiming for zero-waste-to-landfill status by 2027.”

Steve Dimopoulos, Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, called the flight resumption a vote of confidence, stating it would “stimulate tourism, facilitate student exchanges, and create local employment.”

Lorie Argus, CEO of Melbourne Airport, highlighted the significance for Victoria and beyond. “The return of LATAM not only reestablishes our direct South American link but also restores Melbourne Airport’s international carrier count to pre-pandemic figures. The strategic layout of our single terminal also simplifies connections for passengers from Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, and the ACT.”

Celebrations and Details.

To mark the occasion, passengers on Saturday’s LA804 flight from Melbourne were treated to traditional South American alfajor biscuits at check-in and entertained with Chilean Cueca dancing.

The Melbourne-Santiago service operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, departing from Melbourne at 12:25 p.m. and arriving in Santiago at 11:20 a.m. The return flights take off from Santiago at 12:55 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, landing in Melbourne at 5:30 a.m. the next day.

To reserve a seat on this route, visit LATAM Airlines’ official website or consult a travel agent.