From December 1st 2025, LATAM will unveil its new Premium Business experience, a complete reinvention that marks the airline’s grass-roots as a true global contender. What makes this transformation so compelling is that rather than emulating a familiar luxury template, LATAM has chosen to celebrate its own roots. Every detail, from the colours to the service rituals, reflects the spirit of South America, its warmth, richness and quiet sophistication.

For years, LATAM’s “Premium Business” product was solid but safe, its title hinting at something more luxurious than the experience delivered. The seats, service and menus were competent, yet conventional, aligned with international standards but rarely pushing beyond them. Now, however, the airline has closed that gap between lofty name and reality. With this redesign, “Premium Business” finally feels true to its promise, not through extravagance, but through emotional intelligence, cultural depth and sensory storytelling.

The refreshed aesthetic draws inspiration from the landscapes that define the continent: the deep blues of the Pacific, the lush greens of the Amazon, and the burnt ochres and sandy hues of the Andes and Atacama. Together, they create an atmosphere that feels naturally elegant, a visual language that carries both the generosity and rhythm of the region. The new serviceware echoes this balance, with warm-toned ceramics and soft textures that feel handcrafted yet refined. It is luxury reinterpreted through a Latin lens, where authenticity and comfort meet in perfect harmony.

Paulo Miranda, LATAM’s Vice President of Customers, explains that the aim is to create an experience that reflects the warmth and elegance of Latin America in every interaction. That sentiment is carried through in the smallest of details. The new amenity kits, produced in collaboration with Costa Brazil, embrace sustainable materials and natural fragrances drawn from the Amazon. Coffee, chocolate and cocktails now take centre stage, celebrating the region’s most iconic exports. Each element connects the journey back to a sense of place, creating a series of quiet, personal moments that together form a richer, more human experience.

Layers of meaning and effortless design
What makes this evolution so powerful is its restraint. LATAM’s design team has understood that the most memorable experiences are often built from small details delivered with grace. The new service protocols focus on intuitive, personal hospitality rather than formality, allowing the crew’s natural warmth to shine through. The result is a style of service that feels polished but relaxed, genuine but globally attuned.

This is not simply an upgrade of materials or menus, but a rethinking of how luxury can express identity. The dining experience, from the choice of ingredients to the choreography of service, reflects the richness and diversity of South American culture without tipping into excess. It feels modern, natural and quietly confident, a clear reflection of an airline that understands who it is.

LATAM’s direction places it alongside a growing movement of carriers embracing cultural authenticity as a form of modern luxury. Japan Airlines channels calm precision through minimalist design and kaiseki-inspired dining. Emirates and Qatar Airways project the opulence and generosity of Middle Eastern hospitality. Hawaiian Airlines captures the spirit of its islands through materiality, language and ritual. LATAM’s interpretation feels just as assured, yet distinctively its own, colourful, grounded and emotionally resonant.

What makes LATAM’s case especially interesting is that this is not about rebranding through excess or high design for design’s sake. It is a carefully choreographed evolution, the kind that feels earned. Each layer of the experience, from the visual texture of the tableware to the tone of voice in crew interactions, builds towards something quietly transformative. The airline is not just selling a premium product; it is selling a chance to experience something recognisably South American yet refined enough to sit proudly alongside the best carriers in the world.
The art of culturally rooted luxury
At a time when many airlines are pursuing pared-back minimalism or interchangeable international aesthetics, LATAM’s approach feels refreshingly confident. It proves that sophistication and identity are not opposites but partners. The new Premium Business experience is both global and local, combining the precision of world-class hospitality with the colour, rhythm and warmth of Latin America.

It captures the texture of South America, the scent of coffee, the richness of cacao, the tones of terracotta and wood, and translates it into a contemporary design experience. The feeling is not curated opulence but quiet abundance, a sense that every choice has a story behind it. That kind of storytelling cannot be manufactured; it has to come from a deep understanding of place and a genuine pride in sharing it.

It also signals a subtle shift in how airlines are thinking about premium travel. LATAM is not chasing comparison to the world’s luxury giants; it is reframing what Latin excellence looks like in an international context. The effect is disarmingly honest, sophisticated but never sterile. The result is a cabin experience that feels lived-in rather than staged, elevated by design yet grounded in human warmth.
This new chapter positions LATAM as more than just a leading regional airline. It becomes a cultural ambassador in the sky, a carrier that invites the world to see South America through its eyes. Each flight feels like an act of hospitality, an expression of the region’s heart and artistry. And in a market saturated with uniformity, LATAM’s approach is not only refreshing, it is instructive — a reminder that when airlines celebrate where they come from, they also show the world where travel can go next.
As I do every year, I ask on your kind support to keep things going. If you are able to donate – whatever amount – it all gets funnelled back in to the site, to keep the site full of content. And I thank you personally for your kind support.
Discover more from TheDesignAir
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
