LATAM Airlines Group publishes 2015 Sustainability Report

SANTIAGO, Chile – LATAM Airlines Group today publishes its third annual Sustainability Report, written in accordance with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines.

SANTIAGO, Chile – LATAM Airlines Group today publishes its third annual Sustainability Report, written in accordance with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines.

The 2015 report highlights LATAM Airlines Group’s progress in measuring and managing the impact of its activities as well as outlining the group’s strategy to further improve its social, economic and environmental performance.


2015 Highlights:

• Through its Fuel Efficiency Program, the group economized 38.4 million gallons of fuel in 2015, equivalent to a decrease of 366,500 metric tons in CO2 emissions. Since 2012, the group has improved its fuel efficiency by 2.5% per year on average.

• LATAM Airlines Group was listed in the Dow Jones World Sustainability Index for the second consecutive year and is one of only two airline groups in the index worldwide. The index recognizes select companies based on economic, environmental and social criteria such as commitment to stakeholders, corporate governance and compliance, trust, social reporting, development of human capital as well as environmental reporting and management.

• LATAM Airlines Group received certification for the second stage of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) – the highest level of accreditation granted – for its international flights operating from Chile. The airline group is the first in the Americas and the third in the world to receive this certification. The process took three years and involved the identification, evaluation and management of the environmental impact of flights and corporate activities at the international destinations served by the group from Chile.

• LATAM Cargo in Miami received ISO 14001 certification for the environmental management system of its ground operations. ISO 14001 sets out universal criteria for environmental management systems to ensure that environmental considerations are being identified, measured and controlled. The group is working towards this certification at the principal maintenance facilities throughout its network.

• The group has reduced the noise levels of its fleet by replacing older aircraft with quieter, more efficient aircraft – such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 – which generate up to 40% less noise than similar models. The entire LATAM Airlines Group fleet is compliant with the ICAO Chapter IV Standard, the most rigorous noise standard in the aviation industry.

• The group continued to support the development of tourism in Latin America by transporting more than 4.8 million passengers from diverse parts of the world to the region’s main tourist destinations in 2015. Tourist organizations* estimate that these passengers contributed US$4.7 billion to the regional economy by calculating the average spend per tourist, which includes airport charges, accommodation, meals, transfers, excursions and retail expenditure.

• LATAM Airlines transported 302.6 metric tons of recyclable waste from Easter Island, the remotest island on Earth, located 3,700km off the coast of South America. The funds generated from the sale of the recyclable materials are then re-invested in local government environmental initiatives on the island.

• The group donated over 3,000 seats in support of social foundations and causes in the region, such as the Operación Sonrisa (operation smile) foundation in Colombia, which provides assistance for children with cleft lips and palates. Around 300 tickets were used to transport doctors, patients and family members; enabling corrective surgery for 388 children and the assessment of a further 750.

“As the leading airlines group in the region, LATAM Airlines Group not only has a responsibility to operate in an efficient and sustainable manner, but also to set an example, by meeting and exceeding the highest international standards,” said Enrique Cueto, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group. “In 2015, we made great progress towards achieving the goals set out in our sustainability plan, achieving notable recognition – such as our place in the Dow Jones World Sustainability Index – along the way. As part of our commitment to generate shared value for passengers, employees, shareholders, stakeholders, suppliers and the communities in which we operate, we will continue to work towards enhancing the sustainability of the company.”



LATAM Airlines Group is currently implementing its 2015-2018 Corporate Sustainability Plan, which was defined following research into the most relevant economic, social and environmental considerations of the company. The plan is underpinned by three core pillars: Governance of Sustainability (integrating sustainable practices into the business); Climate Change (initiatives to manage potential environmental impacts);and Corporate Citizenship (the group’s contribution to society and its efforts to support social development).

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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