May 2 (Reuters) - Chilean carrier LATAM Airlines

hiked its core earnings forecast for this year on

Thursday, backed by a strong first-quarter performance and

increased demand.

LATAM now sees its adjusted EBITDAR - earnings before

interest, tax, depreciation, amortization and restructuring or

rent costs - for the year at a record $2.75 billion to $3.0

billion, up 10% to 22% from 2023.

The previous estimate set in December had been for

between $2.6 billion and $2.9 billion.

In the quarter, LATAM brought in $796 million in

EBITDAR.

Traffic, meanwhile, topped pre-pandemic levels, said

Chief Financial Officer Ramiro Alfonsin in a statement, driven

by holiday travel.

Net profit more than doubled in the quarter to $258 million,

from revenues up 18% to $3.32 billion.