News

Logan to offer non-stop service to Brazil next summer

BOSTON — LATAM Airlines will now begin to service flights directly from São Paulo, Brazil to Boston, starting in the summer of 2018.

The first non-stop flight to Brazil from Boston will be the 54th international destination to be served by Logan Airport through its newley upgraded Terminal E.

São Paulo, a city of almost 12 million people with a flourishing economy, is the financial capital of Brazil and the largest healthcare hub in Latin America. Much like Massachusetts, the state of São Paulo is the home for many highly-acclaimed universities.

“Massachusetts is a global community, home to a large and vibrant Brazilian population and businesses large and small looking for a competitive edge in one of the world’s most robust economies,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This new nonstop flight to São Paulo will provide new opportunities for all and make Brazil more conveniently accessible to the Commonwealth’s residents and employers.”

Boston will be LATAM’s sixth destination in the United States, joining the ranks of Miami, Orlando, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and New York. LATAM Airlines Group serves more than 140 destinations in 25 countries with hubs in São Paulo, Brazil, Lima, Peru and Santiago, Chile.

“The addition of nonstop service to São Paulo means another major South American gateway city is now connected directly to Boston’s visitor industry and diversified economic base,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “This opportunity will not only provide more efficient travel for customers but also opportunities for social, education and economic development for both Boston and São Paulo.”

The number of international non-stop destinations from Logan has doubled from 27 to 54, where international passengers account for 16 percent of travelers in the airport.

In 2016 alone, 6.5 million international passengers traveled through Logan Airport's Terminal E.

“Connecting New England with the global economy is a key part of Massport’s mission. Offering nonstop service to Brazil, one of the world’s largest economies, has been a target of ours for some time,” said Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn. “We are excited to welcome LATAM to Logan to provide this service that will connect not only our economies, but families and students as well.”

If you're wondering why this destination addition to Logan is such a great stride for Boston, its because of numbers, specifically of people.

Massachusetts is home to the second largest foreign born Brazilian population in the United States with over 60,000 residents; Brazilians also make up 2 percent of the population of Boston.

According to The New York Times, Massachusetts residents are more likely to visit Brazil than anyone else in the United States.

Last year, Boston Logan serviced 75 domestic and 54 international destinations and served more than 36 million passengers last year. From Boston, passengers can fly non-stop to more than 30 different countries.

Sustaining Massachusetts’ competitive edge in international travel is critical to the state’s highly travel-dependent and diversified economy; spread across sectors such as biotechnology, healthcare, education, and medical scientific research.

Massport has worked to increase the number of options for international nonstop flights, which help make Boston more attractive to foreign companies to locate U.S. facilities in the Commonwealth.