LATAM Airlines Group has signed joint business ventures with its oneworld partners, American Airlines and IAG.
As a result of the agreement, IAG and American Airlines customers will get access to LATAM’s network of over 100 destinations with more than 1,000 flights a day. LATAM, which consists of LAN and TAM, and its affiliates will have access to its network of 420 destinations on routes to the US and Canada with American Airlines and to Europe with IAG. It will get access to American Airlines’ 2,500 daily flights within the US and Canada, and 900 European flights through IAG’s British Airways and Iberia network.
LATAM Airlines Group chief executive officer (CEO), Enrique Cueto says: “This is excellent news for Latin America. Through these two agreements, we seek to significantly improve the benefits to our clients by providing them with greater connectivity between South America and the United States/Canada and also between South America and Europe.”
IAG CEO, Willie Walsh says: “We already have a close commercial relationship with LATAM Airlines Group as part of oneworld and we look forward to enhancing the relationship further.”
“This joint business would benefit customers by providing them with easier journeys to more destinations with better aligned schedules and increased frequencies.”
The South American countries covered by American under the agreement are Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay; while IAG will include Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.
The agreements are subject to regulatory approval and the airlines will continue to operate independently and maintain control of their respective operations. The parties say there will be no changes to ownership or administration of the airlines.
