LATAM Airlines Reduces CO2 Emissions by One Million Tons Annually Through Technological Innovation and Operational Efficiency
LATAM Airlines Group has reached a significant milestone in its decarbonization strategy by avoiding the emission of more than one million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. This achievement is the result of a combination of technological innovations, such as the AeroSHARK coating, and precision operational adjustments that optimize fuel consumption across its entire fleet.
Sustainability Strategy: Invisible Impact, Tangible Results
Sustainability in today’s aviation industry is not just based on grand promises for the future, but on the accumulation of daily operational decisions. According to Stephano Gachet, LATAM Airlines Group’s Operational Efficiency Program Leader, many of these measures are “invisible” to the passenger but fundamental to responsible operations.
This progress in emission reduction—equivalent to the environmental footprint of approximately 200,000 people worldwide—has positioned the group as the most sustainable airline in the Americas and one of the top five globally, according to S&P Global’s 2025 Corporate Sustainability Assessment.
AeroSHARK: Biomimicry Applied to the Boeing 777-300ER Fleet
One of the most notable innovations is the implementation of AeroSHARK, a coating technology inspired by the structure of sharkskin. LATAM is expanding the use of this solution across its entire Boeing 777-300ER fleet.
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- How it works: The film features microscopic ridges (riblets) that reduce aerodynamic drag by aligning with the airflow.
- Impact: Operational tests have validated a decrease of nearly 1% in fuel consumption.
- Projection: By 2027, once installation is complete across the designated fleet, it is expected to prevent up to 12,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.
Ground Efficiency and the Single Engine Taxi Protocol
Optimization is not limited to flight time. LATAM has standardized the practice known as Single Engine Taxi, which involves moving the aircraft on the ground using only one engine, whether taxiing to the runway for takeoff or toward the gate after landing.
This maneuver, executed under strict safety protocols, allows for a reduction of more than 100,000 tons of CO2 each year, consolidating it as one of the highest-impact initiatives within the group’s efficiency program.
Weight Factor: Lighter, Modern Cabins
Reducing structural weight is another key piece of the efficiency equation. LATAM has modified its cabins with two primary measures:
- Next-Generation Seating
The new Airbus A320neo and Airbus A321neo models, incorporated starting in October 2025, feature seats that reduce the aircraft’s total weight by 200 to 250 kilograms. This improvement, while seemingly minor on an individual basis, prevents 5,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually and generates operational savings of $1.5 million. - Removal of Obsolete Hardware
The company has removed old overhead screens from its narrow-body cabins, which became obsolete following the implementation of personal entertainment systems (IFE). This measure has eliminated unnecessary weight, avoiding 7,000 tons of CO2 and representing savings exceeding $2 million.
Toward Net-Zero Emissions by 2050
All these actions are part of LATAM’s Fuel Efficiency program, which has improved the group’s operational efficiency by 7%. In cumulative terms, the program has avoided the consumption of 2.4 million barrels of fuel and the emission of 6.5 million tons of CO2.
To put this impact into perspective, this figure is equivalent to LATAM’s annual operations in markets such as Ecuador, Colombia, and Chile combined. With these data-driven and innovation-based initiatives, the group reaffirms its roadmap to achieve the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
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