LATAM MRO (acronym for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, or Maintenance, Repair and General Overhaul), the maintenance unit of the LATAM Group, is resuming this quarter, at its unit in São Carlos (Brazil), the plan to reconfigure and modernize the interior of aircraft cabins, the so-called retrofit.
The project provides for the redesign of the interior of the Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft and aims to strengthen the customer experience, making Latam emerge even stronger from the crisis generated by the pandemic.
With the resumption of the project, until September 2022, the cabins of 30 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft in the LATAM Brasil fleet will be refurbished, in addition to another 44 aircraft of the same model belonging to the fleets of the other s of the LATAM Group.
For this new stage, LATAM MRO in São Carlos-SP has already hired 80 professionals, most of whom are aeronautical mechanics, and expects to hire another 100 by the end of the year.
"The resumption of the retrofit project at LATAM MRO is a clear indication that we are once again competing more aggressively in the Brazilian market, with a more modern and efficient product for our customers”, says Alexandre Peronti, Director of Maintenance at LATAM Brazil. “For the entire team in São Carlos, it is very important to resume this activity paralyzed in the pandemic, and which puts all our ability to deliver world-class aircraft maintenance to the test.".
Project is the biggest investment in the history of the LATAM Group
As announced in 2019, the refurbishment of the LATAM Group's aircraft cabins is the largest investment in the company's history (approximately US$400 million), half of which was allocated to the LATAM Brasil operation.
With the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, the project had been paralyzed in March 2020. By then, 29 aircraft (28 A320s and 1 A321) from the LATAM Brasil fleet had undergone the retrofit process, in addition to another 15 A320s from s of the LATAM Group.
LATAM expects to complete the project by September 2022, as it considers this transformation essential to offer customers a unique experience on board and the standardization of the fleet, with a modern, more technological design and creating a new experience for customers in the Economy class (with more legroom and cabin separation).
The retrofit process at the LATAM MRO workshops involves the complete disassembly of the aircraft cabin, replacing all the seats, replacing the washbasin and galley (airplane galley), in addition to the structural reinforcements necessary for the new internal configuration.
A system called “in seat power” is also installed, which guarantees an electrical power point for each seat in the aircraft, in addition to a system called “direct view”, which consists of a camera to monitor the enger cabin during landings. and take-offs, ensuring your safety.
And speaking of resumption
The return of the retrofit reflects the more optimistic view of LATAM with the improvement in demand in the airline sector through the progress in the vaccination process against Covid-19.
The project is one of the most important actions to and speed up the process of resuming operations for the LATAM Group, especially in Brazil, where the company intends to compete even more aggressively.
In July, LATAM Brasil regained 75% of its seat supply (measured in ASK) compared to the same period in 2019, and compared to July 2020, the supply is three times greater. The company's flights grew 34% compared to the previous month, from 310 to 418 daily flights.
International operations grew 20% with the return of two more destinations – Paris and Bogotá – and by the end of the year, the company should hire 750 crew to meet the expectation of resuming 100% of its pre-pandemic seat offer.
Excellence in Aircraft Maintenance
The choice of the São Carlos unit to concentrate the LATAM Group's retrofit project was not by chance. The city in the interior of São Paulo is known for being a technological hub in the state, with two of the most important Brazilian universities and, therefore, with the capacity to supply specialized labor.
This whole context makes LATAM MRO a reference in aircraft maintenance in Brazil and Latin America and makes the unit even more strategic for the LATAM Group's plans.
"The importance of LATAM MRO in São Carlos for this project cannot be disputed, given its operational excellence and strategic position for the company. In addition, our region is an important hub for skilled labor, so we are very happy to see many of our people returning to work with us.", highlights Peronti.
