LAN Airlines

LAN Airlines S.A. (formerly Lan Chile S.A.) is an airline based in Santiago, Chile. It is the principal Chilean airline and currently the biggest Airline in South America, with flights to Latin America, North America, the Caribbean, Oceania, and Europe. It is a member of the oneworld airline alliance. Its main airport is Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL), in Santiago, with hubs/focus cities at Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires, Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) in Lima, Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) in Quito and at Miami International Airport (MIA) in Miami. LAN Airlines and Aerolineas Argentinas are the only Latin American airlines that fly to Oceania.

History

The airline was founded by Chilean Army Air Services Commander Arturo Merino Benitez (who had the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport named after him years later), and began operations on March 5, 1929 as Línea Aeropostal Santiago-Arica. It took the name LAN Chile in 1932. In September 1989, the Chilean government privatized the carrier, selling a majority stake in the company to Icarosan and Scandinavian Airlines System.

The approval from the Chilean Antimonopolies Board resulted in the acquisition of control of the country's second airline Ladeco on 11 August 1995. In October 1998 LAN Chile merged Fast Air with Ladeco. As of March 2004 LAN Chile and its subsidiaries LAN Peru, LAN Ecuador, LAN Dominicana and LANExpress became unified under the single LAN Airlines brand. On 17 June 2004 LAN Chile changed its formal name to LAN Airlines as part of this rebranding process. Midth of 2005 LAN opened its subsidiary LAN Argentina in Argentina and operates national and international flights from Buenos Aires, being the second biggest local operator behind Aerolineas Argentinas. This subsidiary is also under the single LAN brand.

LAN Airlines has the following subsidiaries and shareholdings: LAN Cargo (99.4%), LANExpress (99.4%), ABSA - Aerolinhas Brasileiras (73.3%), LAN Peru (70%), LAN Dominicana (49%), LAN Ecuador (45%), LAN Argentina (49%), MAS Air (39.5%) and Florida West International Airways (25%). It also has 11,173 employees.

LAN codeshares with American Airlines to U.S. destinations, British Airways and Iberia to European destinations, to Asian destinations with Korean Air, and some destinations in Australia and New Zealand with Qantas.

In our days, LAN Airlines is on a remodelating process in which both, First and Business class, are becoming just one in Premium Business. This new feature is going to be available in early 2007 and only in intercontinental and transoceanic flights on 767s and Airbus 340.

On the other hand, tourism and travel magazines, as well as websites are saying that LAN is considerating to enter into the Brazilian market in a closer future, maybe in 2008, in the same way this airline did with Peru, Ecuador and Argentina. Although, the airline has not made an official statement.

Destinations

See full article LAN Airlines destinations.

Fleet

The LAN Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (at 3 December 2005):

5 Airbus A319-100 (4 more on order)
15 Airbus A320-200 (13 more on order)
4 Airbus A340-300 (2 more on order)
9 Boeing 737-200
1 Boeing 737-200F
17 Boeing 767-300ER (6 more on order)
4 Boeing 767-300ERF (4 more on order)

Also on order are 15 Airbus A318s, on which LAN became the launch customer for the Pratt & Whitney PW6000 engine ^*. Its A319 & A320s are equipped with International Aero Engines V2500s. Lan Airlines has recently renovated its Boeing's 767s, adding amenities like seasts that recline 180 degrees, and seatback TV's

The average LAN fleet age is 10.3 years old in April 2006.

External links

Asia Miles | Airlines of Chile | Transportation in Chile | LAN Airlines | Chilean companies

Gourt Home::Gourt :: LAN Airlines

History

Destinations

Fleet

External links