LATAM Airlines

LATAM Airlines is the largest airline group in Latin America, tracing its origins to 1929 when LAN Chile was founded as a state-owned carrier by the Chilean government. The modern company was created in 2012 through the merger of Chile's LAN Airlines and Brazil's TAM Linhas Aéreas, forming a unified holding group with affiliates in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Brazil. Its main hub is Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago, complemented by major operations at São Paulo–Guarulhos, Lima's Jorge Chávez International, and Bogotá's El Dorado.

The airline operates an extensive domestic network across South America alongside long-haul routes to North America, Europe, Oceania and the Caribbean. Its fleet is built around Airbus A320 family aircraft for short and medium-haul flying, while widebody services are operated with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Boeing 777, supported by Airbus A350s in earlier years and a dedicated Boeing 767 freighter fleet for LATAM Cargo. The group serves more than 140 destinations worldwide.

Previously a member of the Oneworld alliance, LATAM exited in 2020 and has since developed a strategic joint business and codeshare partnership with Delta Air Lines, linking its network to the SkyTeam ecosystem without formal alliance membership. Passenger loyalty is managed through LATAM Pass, one of the largest frequent flyer programmes in the region, offering redemptions across partner carriers and a broad retail ecosystem.

LATAM emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late 2022 after restructuring debt accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has since returned to profitability. While the group remains the dominant full-service carrier in South America, it continues to face competitive pressure from expanding low-cost operators across its home markets.