American, LATAM Airlines announce joint business plan

American Airlines and LATAM Airlines Group are applying for regulatory approval to join forces in better serving their customers.

The joint business, which is subject to regulatory approvals, would offer customers an expanded network, according to the carriers. Services would include coordinated schedules allowing seamless travel on the airlines’ flights between the United States and Canada, as well as six South American countries: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.

If approved, the joint effort would provide benefits for consumers, according to a news release. Those would include:

• Expanded network offerings, with access to more routes, frequencies and destinations

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• More competitive fares

• Increased choices for customers

• Seamless connectivity

The airlines plan to file for antitrust immunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation and local authorities in South America, according to the release. American and LATAM launched their first codeshare in 1999 and became one-world partners when LAN Chile joined the alliance in 2000.

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“When great airlines can work together, customers win with more choices for when and how they travel,” said Doug Parker, chairman and CEO of American Airlines, commenting in a news release.

In the eight countries that would be covered by the agreement, customers would have access to nearly 330 destinations, including 100 more South American destinations than American’s network serves today, Parker said.

Enrique Cueto, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group, added, “We’re bringing the United States, Canada and South America closer together than ever before, by providing both American and LATAM customers even greater benefits.”

The agreement would se American provide LATAM customers greater access to cities in the U.S. and Canada via American’s key hubs in Miami, New York, Dallas/Fort Worth and Los Angeles.

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American Airlines and American Eagle offer almost 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries.

Airlines Group S.A., formerly known as LAN Airlines S.A., provides passenger transport services to about 140 destinations in 24 countries and cargo services to about 144 destinations in 26 countries.