The catalytic performance of the LaCoO3 thin films toward CO and ethanol oxidation was studied in a reactor designed for the investigation of model planar catalysts. The effect of the thickness on the catalytic efficiency and the surface oxygen vacancies offers a straightforward method to identify or discriminate the oxygen species involved in the catalytic reaction. The weight-normalized reaction rate is demonstrated to be an intrinsic parameter and thus confirms the participation of the bulk lattice-oxygen in the studied catalytic reactions. Compared to other perovskite oxide powder catalysts, thin film catalysts show a remarkably higher activity toward ethanol and CO oxidation.