TAM Sets New International Market Share Record of 89.4%

SAO PAULO, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TAM (NYSE: TAM, BOVESPA: TAMM4) announces its operating data for August 2009, as disclosed yesterday by the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC).

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080221/SPTH002LOGO )

In the domestic market, the company has observed the return of business passengers due to the end of vacations as well as the absence of holidays in the month of August. However, the company has seen this return in a modest way, an indication that the industry is still impacted by the global economic crisis. The company's load factor was 62.8%, a 4.9 p.p. reduction when compared to August last year, mainly composed of an increase in offered capacity of 5.9% and a decrease of 1.7% in demand. Nonetheless, the company's load factor was above the 62.6% market average. The industry demand and supply grew 21.5% and 20.1%, respectively. The company's market share (RPK) was 43.8%.

The domestic yield in August presented a recovery when compared to July, however, TAM believes the third quarter's average will remain stable or slightly below second quarter results, mainly because of the dynamic observed in September.

In the international market, the company has obtained a 16.8% growth in RPK when compared to the same period last year, while the ASK grew 24.5%. TAM's market share in August reached 89.4% and the load factor was 73.7%, 4.8 p.p. above the market average of 68.9%.

    Please find below TAM's operating data for August:

    Operating data                         Aug. 2009    Aug. 2008     Var. %
    Domestic Market
         ASK (millions) - Supply               3,140       2,967        5.9%
         RPK (millions) - Demand               1,972       2,007       -1.7%
         Load Factor                           62.8%       67.6%   -4.9 p.p.
         Market share                          43.8%       54.2%  -10.4 p.p.

    International Market
         ASK (millions) - Supply               2,131       1,711      24.53%
         RPK (millions) - Demand               1,570       1,344      16.80%
         Load Factor                           73.7%       78.6%   -4.9 p.p.
         Market share                          89.4%       73.9%   15.5 p.p.


    Operating data                       Jan-Aug 2009 Jan-Aug 2008    Var. %
    Domestic Market
         ASK (millions) - Supply              25,451       23,134       10.0%
         RPK (millions) - Demand              16,303       16,134        1.0%
         Load Factor                           64.1%        69.7%   -5.7 p.p.
         Market share                          46.6%        50.0%   -3.3 p.p.

    International Market
         ASK (millions) - Supply              16,668       13,571      22.80%
         RPK (millions) - Demand              11,877       10,382      14.40%
         Load Factor                           71.3%        76.5%   -5.2 p.p.
         Market share                          86.7%        71.3%   15.5 p.p.


    Investor Relations:
    Phone: (55) (11) 5582-9715
    Fax: (55) (11) 5582-8149
    invest@tam.com.br
    www.tam.com.br/ir

    Press Agency Contact:
    Media Relations
    www.tam.com.br
    www.taminforma.com.br
    MVL Comunicacao
    Phone: (55) (11) 3594-0328
    equipetam@mvl.com.br

SOURCE TAM