UK's only direct flight to Peru set to launch this winter

Summer holidays are coming to an end, but that only means exciting winter journeys are just around the corner.

One airline is delivering an early Christmas present in the form of a new direct flight route to a destination cherished by Wanderlust readers.

LATAM have revealed they will begin a non-stop service from London Heathrow the Peruvian capital of Lima – pending government approval – in December this year.

Launching from 2 December, five flights a week are scheduled to run on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The 12-hour service is expected to operate on a Boeing-787, with 30 business class seats and 283 economy seats.

This new route means the UK’s direct connection to the South American country will be restored. British Airways dropped their direct Gatwick-Lima service back in 2019.

It’s no secret that Peru has been the subject of political turmoil in the past year – the reason behind the sudden temporary closure of Machu Picchu in January (it reopened shortly after) – but this new service offers encouragement for those unsure whether to visit. The FCDO currently doesn’t have any warnings in place for travellers, and tour operators are still running business as usual. 

LATAM regional commercial director David Ioppolo described the new flight as a ‘historic milestone’ for the airline, referring to it being the only carrier to provide such a service from the UK.

While Heathrow’s chief commercial officer Ross Baker added: “We are delighted to welcome LATAM’s new Lima service to Heathrow – the UK’s only direct connection to Peru.

“Whether it’s travelling to explore historic sites like Machu Picchu, or opening doors for expanding trade, we can’t wait to welcome the first passengers onto this new route.”

Of course, there’s much more for travellers to experience in Peru than just this ancient citadel. In fact, there’s a 30,000km network of Inca trails around the country, helping you get off the beaten track and see the lesser-known views and archaeological sites. For example, Choquequirao has a fraction of the visitors compared to Machu Picchu.

Peru is also experiencing something of a culinary revolution as three of Lima's restaurants were named in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list for 2023, with Central crowned number one. 

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How you can explore Peru off the beaten (Inca) trail

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