MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean carrier launches fourth affiliate Lan Colombia

Lan Colombia is already the second largest in the country with a 23% share of the domestic market

LAN Airlines, Chile’s flag carrier made the official launching of its fourth affiliate under the name of Lan Colombia, becoming the second largest airline in the country with 22 domestic destinations, including Cartagena, Cali and Medellín.

LAN Airlines acquired the Colombia airline AIRES in November 2010 and since then has invested 405 million dollars toward the implementation of the company’s operational standards, fleet updates, rebranding, and expansion, with the inclusion of three new Airbus A320 aircraft.

The new affiliate carrier will also become part of the second biggest passenger market in South America after Brazil. Colombia is the fourth economy of Latinamerica and the second most populated in South America.

LAN Colombia has a staff of 1.750, and a 23% in the Colombian domestic air market with a fleet of 26 aircraft. It also has an international line linking Fort Lauderdale in Florida with Colombian capital Bogotá.

LAN has domestic operations in Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, and is in the process of merging with Brazil's TAM SA.

“We're proud that the network of LAN Airlines and its affiliates is increasing by 22 new destinations in Colombia, and expanding its connections in South America and the rest of the world,” said the carrier's chief operating officer Ignacio Cueto.