Over the past several years, LATAM has been installing a new business class product on its long haul aircraft. The airline hasn’t even finished this installation, but now plans to introduce yet another new business class seat.
While this was first revealed a few months ago, the airline has today provided more details about what we can expect, including the timeline.
In this post:
Basics of LATAM’s new business class suites
LATAM will be modernizing the business class product on much of its Boeing 787 fleet. Specifically, the airline has plans to install business class suites with doors on 24 of its Dreamliner aircraft, including the 787-8 and 787-9 variant.
LATAM will be installing the Recaro R7 seat (formerly marketed as the CL6720 seat), featuring direct aisle access and privacy doors at every seat. This is the same product you’ll find on Air China’s new Airbus A350s, and also on Iberia’s new Airbus A350s. LATAM will be the first airline in South America to have doors at business class seats.
Seat features will include an 18″ high definition monitor, USB-A and USB-C charging, a dedicated shoe compartment, and ample storage space.
The airline is partnering with PriestmanGoode on the design of the seat, noting that it “incorporates South American elements,” like “granite tables inspired by the Andes, interior contours evoking Brazil’s sand
dunes, and copper accents that pay homage to the region’s heritage.”
The first Boeing 787-8 is currently getting new cabins installed, and is expected to enter service in the first quarter of 2025. We should see the first Boeing 787-9 reconfigured later in 2025. The plan is for all planes to be reconfigured by the end of 2026. That seems like an aggressive timeline, given that LATAM hasn’t even finished its previous business class retrofit project six years after announcing it.
Currently LATAM has 30 business class seats on both the 787-8 and 787-9. Once reconfigured, the 787-8 will have just 20 business class seats (as the size of the cabin is being reduced, and limited to the space between doors one and two), while the 787-9s will continue to have 30 business class seats. I’m disappointed to see the reduction in the size of business class on the 787-8s, since that won’t be great in terms of fares, upgrades, and award availability.
There are no plans for LATAM’s Boeing 767s and Boeing 777s to get these new seats. In fairness, they all feature LATAM’s current new business class product, while a majority of Boeing 787s don’t have that cabin. This latest update follows LATAM’s recent announcement that it’s investing in its Boeing 787 economy product.
This is an exciting development!
Honestly, LATAM’s current new business class product is solid. What has been frustrating is that as of now, over half of LATAM’s Boeing 787s don’t have that product. Instead, they have an old cabin in a 2-2-2 configuration. Given that 787s are used for some of LATAM’s most premium routes, this was a weak point of the LATAM experience.
So I’m excited to see LATAM finally investing more in these jets. In particular, none of the carrier’s 787-8s feature the new cabins, so those are most in need of a refresh — I like that those planes are being prioritized.
I do find it interesting that “only” 24 Dreamliners will be getting the new cabins. It seems to me like those 787s that already had the recent new product installed won’t get the newest seats. That’s fair enough, since it still means LATAM will only have two business class products once this project is complete. That’s better than a lot of other airlines, frankly.
Bottom line
LATAM is introducing yet another new business class product, as the airline will install the Recaro R7 business class suite on Dreamliners. This is an excellent business class seat with doors. While I’m happy to see this incremental improvement over the carrier’s previous new business class, what’s most exciting is that more 787s will finally be getting a refresh.
What do you make of LATAM’s new business class suites with doors?
We have flown the LATAM 787 and 767 and agree they need updating. We always chose the middle 2 in the 2-2-2 config.
we know which us routes this will include? have flights in august booked...
Not only is LAX-SCL the old cabin but they cancelled my flight on 12/22 and now I'm flying the next day separated from my wife.
I normally am ok with 2x2x2 if the seat is solid, but that's because I'm next to my wife, not a stranger. Hoping for someone willing to swap - at least we both have center aisle seats.
20x BC seats in the -8’s is going to be a cramped cabin. This might be a step forward from the 2-2-2 but it feels like a step backward from the staggered product they recently added.. it’s a pity for LATAM on their way up to stumble here with a new product that will not be comparable to competing with Qatar, BA, Lufthansa etc
Still no WiFi (not even announced) in long haul aircraft in 2024 is what brings the excitement from the new seats down. I really can’t understand what LATAM is waiting for to install it in the 767s, 787s and 777s.