LATAM: A Latin American Airline’s Emergence as a Global Player

LAN was founded by Arturo Merino Benitez, a Chilean Air Services Commander, in 1929, as a state-owned corporation LíneaAeropostal Santiago-Arica to transport passengers, cargo, and mail by air in the country. It was renamed LíneaAerea Nacional de Chile (LAN) in 1932. In 1946, the airline started its first international flight from Santiago to Buenos Aires. Later in 1970, LAN started flights to Europe reaching Madrid, Paris, and Frankfurt. The airline was constituted as Linea Aerea Nacional – Chile Limitada (LAN Chile) in 1983. In 1985, LAN became a joint stock company.