Lima Perú Airport
LATAM Airlines Peru has announced a significant reduction in its international operations from Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM), confirming the cancellation of four active routes and the suspension of two planned launches. The airline attributes this drastic restructuring directly to the implementation of the new Unified Airport Use Fee (TUUA) for international transfers, a measure it claims renders the Peruvian hub uncompetitive.
According to the carrier, the new fee—set at approximately $11.86 USD per connecting passenger—dismantles the economic viability of routes that rely on transit traffic. Effective March 29, 2026, the airline will cease operations between Lima and San Miguel de Tucumán (TUC), the latest casualty in a growing list of suspended services.
A “Hub” in Crisis: Routes Cut
The cancellation of the Tucumán service is not an isolated event but part of a strategic retreat from Lima as a connecting point. LATAM confirmed that the new fee structure has forced the termination of three other key international leisure and business routes:
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Lima – Orlando (MCO)
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Lima – Curaçao (CUR)
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Lima – Florianópolis (FLN)
In addition to cutting existing services, the airline has aborted its expansion plans for the first quarter of 2026, cancelling the launch of flights to Guatemala City (GUA) and Belo Horizonte (CNF).
The “Death” of the Transfer Model
The core of the dispute lies in the mechanics of the hub model. LATAM argues that charging passengers for merely changing planes in Peru “weakens the strategic role of Lima as a regional hub”. The airline highlights that direct competitors like Bogotá (BOG) and Panama City (PTY) do not impose similar transfer fees, allowing them to offer lower total fares and more efficient connections.
By adding nearly $12 to the cost of every round-trip connecting passenger, the transfer TUUA erodes the thin margins on secondary routes like Tucumán or Florianópolis, which were designed specifically to feed the hub rather than serve local point-to-point traffic.
The implementation of the fee by Lima Airport Partners (LAP) has triggered a standoff between the industry and the operator. While LAP defends the charge as necessary for financing airport infrastructure, airlines view it as a short-sighted revenue grab that sacrifices long-term connectivity for immediate cash flow.
LATAM stated it “regrets that the implementation of this fee did not prioritize passenger benefit or the sustainability of regional connectivity”. Despite the cuts, the airline remains open to dialogue with Peruvian authorities to find a solution that might eventually restore Lima’s competitiveness.
For the newly confirmed cancellation of the Tucumán route (effective March 29, 2026), as well as the other affected destinations, LATAM has activated a protection plan. Passengers can request a full refund or opt for rerouting via other hubs, such as Buenos Aires (AEP/EZE) or Salta (SLA), where available.
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