The first LATAM Airlines flight to South Africa landed this afternoon at Johannesburg’s O. R. Tambo International Airport.

Flight JJ8162 was operated by a Boeing 767 aircraft with 191 seats in Economy and 30 in Premium Business.

The new service further expands the connectivity offered to passengers, making LATAM the only Latin American carrier to operate flights between region and the African continent.

“We strive to take our customers further and with this new Johannesburg service we will connect four continents and passengers on both sides of the Atlantic,” said Claudia Sender, president, LATAM Airlines Brazil.

“This flight marks the first new international service outside of Latin America since the launch of the LATAM brand in April, which will connect two regions that have much to offer to tourists and business travellers alike.”

LATAM Airlines Group expects to fly more than 50,000 passengers per year on the São Paulo-Johannesburg-São Paulo route.

From the group’s São Paulo hub, connections will be available to destinations throughout South America including Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires and other Brazilian cities.

Johannesburg is one of Africa´s main gateways, offering connections to destinations such as Cape Town, Durban and the islands of Mauritius, the Seychelles and the Maldives.

Attractions include the natural reserves of the Kruger National Park, surf beaches and acclaimed wine routes as well as range of other cultural and natural destinations.