LATAM Airlines operates its first passenger charter flights linked to SAF usage

The operation, carried out in partnership with PONANT and comprising 13 flights, enabled the reduction of approximately 160 tonnes of CO₂ through the allocation of 22,400 gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), marking another milestone in LATAM’s decarbonization strategy. The project is part of LATAM Group’s climate change strategy, which aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 through fleet modernisation, operational efficiency, SAF adoption, and carbon offsetting as a complementary measure, prioritising nature-based solutions in strategic South American ecosystems. LATAM Airlines Group has completed its first passenger charter flights with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) allocation, resulting in a reduction of approximately 160 tonnes of CO₂ emissions associated with flights operated in partnership with French luxury expedition company PONANT. The operation consisted of 13 flights between Santiago, Chile, and Ushuaia, Argentina, to which 22,400 gallons of SAF were allocated under the Book-and-Claim chain-of-custody methodology. The initiative represents LATAM’s first emissions-reduction project linked to passenger charter operations developed jointly with a customer. ​This milestone marks a tangible step forward in LATAM’s sustainability strategy and demonstrates how collaboration between airlines and customers can help accelerate the transition toward lower-emission aviation. ​“At LATAM, we firmly believe that advancing a more sustainable aviation industry requires the commitment and collaboration of the entire value chain. This operation with PONANT demonstrates that concrete mechanisms already exist for our customers to actively contribute to reducing the emissions associated with their air travel operations, while we continue to drive the development and adoption of sustainable aviation fuels across the region”, said Thibaud Morand, General Manager of LATAM Airlines for Europe, Asia and Oceania. Wassim Daoud, CSR and Sustainable Development Director at PONANT EXPLORATIONS, added: “This collaboration with LATAM marks another important step in our commitment to more sustainable tourism. We are proud to contribute, alongside LATAM, to the development of solutions that can support the decarbonization of transport while offering our guests exploration experiences that are more respectful of the environment.” The emissions reduction was calculated in accordance with the methodology established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), comparing the emissions factors of conventional Jet A-1 fuel with those of the SAF used.​ The fuel allocated for the project was Neste MY SAF™, produced from renewable raw materials and delivering a lifecycle emissions reduction of 74.72 percent compared with conventional jet fuel.