LATAM Airlines Brasil closed 2025 with a number worth talking about: nine out of ten passengers used automatic check-in throughout the year. The figure, announced by the carrier on March 29, 2026, marks a dramatic shift in the boarding experience — and a striking contrast to the 45% recorded back in 2020.
In absolute terms, more than 31.3 million passengers had their boarding pass issued automatically last year, without lifting a finger. For the largest airline in Latin America, it is a clear signal that digital maturity is no longer an aspiration — it is operational reality.
What Automatic Check-In Actually Does
The mechanic is straightforward: the airline issues the boarding pass on the passenger’s behalf, typically via email or app notification, with no action required from the traveler. For frequent flyers, this has become second nature. For occasional travelers, it removes a step that once generated confusion and unnecessary queuing at airport counters.
The operational upside is just as significant. Fewer interactions at check-in desks translate into shorter airport lines, less pressure on ground staff, and a more predictable boarding flow — particularly during peak travel periods such as school holidays and long weekends.
From 45% to 90% in Five Years
The leap from 45% in 2020 to 90% in 2025 did not happen by accident. The pandemic fast-tracked digital adoption across global aviation, and LATAM Brasil was well-positioned to ride that wave. The post-Covid period entrenched new travel habits: Brazilian passengers began expecting to handle everything on their phones before ever arriving at the airport.
Reaching the 90% threshold in a country of continental scale and diverse socioeconomic profile is a meaningful achievement — one that reflects sustained investment in the passenger’s digital journey.
What Comes Next
With nine in ten passengers already on board, the challenge for LATAM Brasil shifts from adoption to experience quality. Personalization, tighter integration with loyalty programs, and smoother handling of rebooking during irregular operations are the logical next frontiers.
Automatic check-in has stopped being a differentiator. It is now the baseline — and the race is on for what comes after it.
