LAN and TAM announced today the opening of their impressive and striking new VIP lounge, at Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos Airport. The new lounge is the largest in Latin America, spanning over a fairly massive 1,800 square metres. We love the wallpaper-esque style injected into the space, really showcasing the very best in South America architecture and design.
Located on the mezzanine floor of the departure area of the brand new Terminal 3 (completed March this year) at the Guarulhos International Airport and with a privileged view of the airport, the lounge has capacity for 450 people. It is open from 5am to midnight every day and is manned by LATAM Airlines Group staff. Its inauguration cements the airport’s position as the region’s principal hub – and terminal 3 plays host to all Star Alliance carriers.
The lounge follows the signature LATAM style, similar to that of the first of the new lounges in Bogota last year. The luxurious space was brought to life by world-renowned international designers including Mathias Klotz and Lillian Allen from Chile, with consulting assistance from the Paris-based Studio Putman, one of the world’s best design studios. The beautiful and understated decor incorporates natural materials like wood, marble, onyx and leather, with colours and details that “aim to represent the richness and diversity of South America”. Here at thedesignair.net we love the injection of colour into an otherwise very masculine design, by the introduction of Santa Monica rugs and Iconic Andrée Putman furniture.
The airline has embraced the future of travel by incorporating an entertainment room with individual tablets, video games and Wi-Fi connection. Tables and chairs are arranged in different formations and all have sockets and USB ports, enabling travellers to remain connected at all times. For those who prefer to relax, the lounge offers six exclusive shower rooms and bathing products scented like tropical Brazilian fruits – yum! Inside each of the exquisitely tiled bathrooms are a host of Natura Ekos and Trousseau bathing products.
As for dining, the space offers a hot and cold buffet area that is nearly 30 metres long and offers dozens of options. For drinks, customers can choose from a wide variety of premium beverages or relax at an exclusive draft beer bar. Coffee lovers can enjoy a selection of hot beverages from Suplicy Cafés Especiais. For those wanting to chill out, why not delve into the Haagen-Dazs ice cream.
The LATAM Airlines Group VIP Lounge is open to all customers flying Business Class with TAM (JJ or PZ), LAN or other oneworld alliance members. The lounge can also be used by holders of TAM Fidelidade Frequent Flyer Black, Vermelho Plus and Vermelho cards and LANPass Comodoro Black, Comodoro and Premium Silver cards, and oneworld’s Emerald or Sapphire frequent flyers.
Jerome Cadier, CMO of LATAM Airlines Group, commented “The inauguration of LATAM’s first lounge is an important marker of the consolidation of the principal operations hub of TAM and LAN, and is the result of the successful merger of the two airlines and cultures that we started back in 2012. It forms part of our constant quest to expand our customer service capacity and offer our passengers more comfort and quality.”
The lounge forms part of the infrastructure of the newly opened Terminal 3, which also includes 40 LAN and TAM check-in counters, all strategically located near the departures area, and a fully automated luggage check-in system that is faster and safer. A parking building connected directly to the terminal provides passengers with easier access to the airport and a wide variety of shops, cafes and restaurants.
We are very impressed by the constant improvements to LATAM’s offering, secretly we just wish they were planning on keeping their first class cabin! If you are headed to Sao Paulo soon, let us know what you think of the new space!
The Big Picture
TheDesignAir 
Do you mean all *Oneworld* airlines depart from Terminal 3? That would seem more relevant. 🙂