LATAM Airlines inaugurated its new seasonal route between Fortaleza (Pinto Martins International Airport, Ceará) and Lisbon, Portugal this Monday, April 7. The inaugural flight operated with a 94% load factor, according to the airline. The service, which will run until October 20, operates once weekly using Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
The launch event was attended by key officials, including Ceará's Secretary of Tourism Eduardo Bismarck, Fortaleza’s Secretary of Tourism Denise Carrá, representatives from Brazil’s Ministry of Tourism, Embratur, LATAM Brasil, and Fraport Brasil, which manages the airport.
The flight has an average duration of 7 hours and 30 minutes, departing Fortaleza on Mondays at 6:15 a.m. (local time) and returning from Lisbon at 6:30 p.m. (local time). The Boeing 787-9 used for the route accommodates 300 passengers: 30 in Premium Business, 57 in Economy+, and 213 in Economy.
In addition to passenger transport, the new route supports LATAM Cargo’s international perishable goods operation, allowing for the weekly export of over 20 tons of fresh fruit from Ceará to Europe, according to AEROIN, our media partner in Brazil.
LATAM is now the leading airline at Fortaleza Airport, operating approximately 200 flights weekly. Within Ceará, the airline also connects São Paulo (Guarulhos) to Juazeiro do Norte and Jericoacoara, each with 10 weekly flights.
On the international front, LATAM already flies from Fortaleza to Miami and Santiago de Chile—the latter inaugurated in December 2024 and operating once a week on Saturdays.
“The launch of this new route reinforces our commitment to Brazil’s air connectivity, particularly in a strategic state like Ceará,” said Eduardo Macedo, Head of Public Affairs at LATAM Brasil. “Our goal is to connect more people and goods between South America and Europe, promoting international tourism and global business,” he added.
Marcelo Freixo, president of Embratur, emphasized Portugal’s key role as the top source of international tourists to Ceará. “This connection will make it even easier for European tourists to access Northeast Brazil. Ceará offers diversity, culture, cuisine, and some of Brazil’s best beaches,” he said.
Elmano de Freitas, Governor of Ceará, stated, “Ceará is becoming a global destination. This partnership with LATAM strengthens our economy and opens new opportunities for our people.”
Leonardo Carnielle, Vice President of Fraport Brasil, added, “We’re very pleased with this new service, which gives people in Ceará another direct link to Europe.”
Fortaleza a candidate for LATAM’s Airbus A321XLR
In 2022, LATAM announced the acquisition of five Airbus A321XLR aircraft, capable of flying up to 8,700 kilometers—enabling direct flights from Northeast Brazil to Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and the United States. The aircraft will also allow LATAM to reassign widebody jets to longer and higher-demand routes.
Fortaleza is among the leading candidates to receive the A321XLR, which could further establish the city as a strategic hub for international connections in Northeast Brazil.
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