LATAM Airlines

LATAM's oldest root is LAN, founded in 1929. A Chilean air force commodore, Arturo Merino Benitez, set it up as Linea Aeropostal Santiago-Arica. The state-owned carrier flew airmail, so it carried letters rather than tourists. Its route ran north from the capital to Chile's far edge. The airline was later renamed Linea Aerea Nacional and became one of South America's most respected carriers. Private owners took over in 1989.

Under the Cueto family, LAN grew quickly in the 1990s and 2000s. It added airlines in Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, and Colombia. It also joined oneworld. An alliance like that is a group of airlines that share routes and benefits with each other. Then came the 2012 merger with Brazil's TAM, founded in 1976. The deal created LATAM Airlines Group, by far the largest airline group in Latin America.

Delta Air Lines bought a 20 percent stake in 2019, and LATAM left oneworld in 2020. That same year the pandemic pushed the group into Chapter 11 protection in New York. It emerged in November 2022, leaner and profitable. LATAM now leads home markets in Chile, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, and flies long routes to North America, Europe, Africa, and Oceania. A joint venture with Delta links both continents.

LATAM flies about 340 aircraft across its Chilean, Brazilian, Peruvian, Colombian, and Ecuadorian airlines. Short trips use the Airbus A320 family, including a fast-growing group of A320neos and A321neos. Longer trips use Boeing 787-8s and 787-9s, Boeing 777-300ERs based mainly in Sao Paulo, and Airbus A350s brought back after restructuring.

LATAM Cargo adds 767-300 freighters, planes built for boxes instead of people. The group holds big orders for more 787s and A320neo-family jets. Those will renew the fleet and add seats at home and on long-haul trunk routes. No other Latin American airline carries more passengers.