Category Archives: LAN Airlines (Ecuador)

Teamsters: A number of LAN Airlines flights could be affected today

LAN Airlines (Chile) (Santiago) and its associated carriers in Latin America could be affected today (March 25) by “a series of actions” by its unions.

International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) has issued this statement:

A number of flights of South American LAN Airlines could be affected. The unions of LAN Airlines will begin a series of actions on Wednesday, March 25 in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Miami. To date the company has not responded to the union’s demands to improve working conditions. LAN Airlines workers are responsible for passenger safety, airplane maintenance, and customer connections in airports.

“National and international passengers could be subject to extensive delays and cancellations. Chile, Colombia and Ecuador are important hubs for the airline”. So reads the leaflets to be distributed to passengers visiting airports “Arturo Merino Benitez” (Santiago, Chile) and “El Dorado” (Bogotá, Colombia). In Ecuador, the leaflets will be distributed at “Mariscal Sucre” in Quito, and “Olmedo” in Guayaquil.

The conflict of the workers of LAN Airlines has gained support from many of the large transport unions in the United States. Teamsters Local 769 of Miami, other transport unions, and the community organization South Florida Voices for Working Families will be joining others in handing out information at the 2015 Sony Open tennis tournament in Miami, Florida. LAN Airlines is an official sponsor of the event. Leaflets will alert the public about the conditions of the LAN Airlines workers and the potential delays that could affect those attending the tennis tournament.

Chile, Colombia and Ecuador are important connecting hubs to flights throughout Latin America according to Luis Chavez, President of the LAN Express union in Chile. “These difficulties are preventable and predictable. The problems are cascading due to LAN Airlines refusal to provide fair conditions for their workers.”

Workers will be asking passengers and cargo users throughout the region to call the company’s toll free numbers to find out the latest information about the possible delays and cancellations. Passengers may also want to suggest that the company be responsible and provide fair conditions for workers at the airline.

The LAN Airline unions involved are members of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) representing more than 4.5 million transport workers from 150 countries around the world. The company, the LATAM Airline Group, includes both Chilean LAN Airlines and Brazilian TAM Airlines and is the largest airline company in Latin America.

Possible Strike in LAN Express Chile

On Wednesday March 25, a general assembly of the Union of LAN Express will take place at the Santiago airport. Leaders of unions throughout Latin America and Chile will attend the meeting. The General Assembly could affect the operations of all of the country’s airports and international connections.

On Monday March 30 and Tuesday March 31 the workers of LAN Express union will vote on whether to strike.

The Chilean workers are seeking both improvements in their own working conditions and also the reinstatement of the leader of the LAN Ecuador union, Jimena Lopez.

Conflict in Ecuador

Since October 2014 demonstrations and protests have erupted throughout the region because LAN Ecuador unjustly dismissed the founder, flight attendant and general secretary of the first aviation union in Ecuador, Jimena Lopez.

LAN Ecuador refuses to reinstate her, even though Carlos Marx Carrasco, Minister of Labour and the President Rafael Correa government have called the company’s actions unconstitutional and counter to Ecuadorian labour law and international labour standards.

Conflict in Colombia

In Colombia the company is laying off experienced mechanics and cargo workers. The union is taking action. Passengers in Colombia will also be warned about potential delays in their flights.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 767-31B ER CC-CXL (msn 26265) touches down at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

LAN Airlines (Chile) aircraft slide show: AG Airline Slide Show

AG No Ads-Beautiful

LATAM Airlines Group loses $330 million in the 2Q

LATAM Airlines Group (LAN Airlines and TAM Linhas Aereas) (Santago and Sao Paulo) reported it lost $330 million in the second quarter. The group was created last year with the merger of the two airlines. The group is struggling in Brazil with TAM due to a weakening Brazilian economy. TAM is cutting costs and reducing flights.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

LATAM Airlines Group Fleet Plans (excerpt from the report):

LATAM Airlines Group 8:2013 Fleet

Top Copyright Photo: Rodrigo Cozzato/AirlinersGallery.com. Sporting new Sharklets, Airbus A320-214 PR-MYY (msn 5591) taxies at the Sao Paulo (Guarulhos) hub.

LAN Airlines (Chile): AG Slide Show

TAM Linhas Aereas: AG Slide Show

Bottom Copyright Photo: Alvaro Romero/ModoCharlie.com. Boeing 777-F6N N772LA (msn 37708) arrives at the Santiago hub.

LAN Ecuador is cutting staff and the Guayaquil-Miami route

LAN Airlines (Ecuador) Boeing 767-316 ER WL HC-CHA (msn 27613) MIA (Arnd Wolf). Image: 904469.

LAN Airlines (Ecuador) is restructuring to cut costs. 55 flight attendants and five administrative staff will lose their jobs. The airline, partly own by LAN Airlines (Chile), is also eliminating the Guayaquil-Miami route this month according to this article by El Universo. Other routes will be reduced in frequency.

Read the full story (in Spanish): CLICK HERE

In other news, the parent LAN Airlines (Chile) (Santiago) announced that the Chilean Supreme Court confirmed on April 5 the approval granted on September 21, 2011, by the Chilean Antitrust Authority (Tribunal de Defensa de la Libre Competencia (TDLC)) to the merger transaction between LAN and TAM, including the mitigation measures imposed on this transaction. The Supreme Court also rejected LAN’s appeal of three of the 14 mitigation measures, which the Company considered to be illegal and unconstitutional.

Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf.

American Airlines’ code share agreement with LAN Ecuador is approved

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) and LAN Ecuador announced they have received approval from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) and Ecuadorean authorities for authorization to begin codeshare cooperation. The agreement, which will also strengthen the oneworld® alliance, will provide customers of both airlines more choices and greater connectivity when traveling between the United States and Ecuador and across each airline’s global network. Travel begins on January 9.

This codeshare relationship will allow American to place its code on LAN Ecuador flights, and LAN to place its code on American Airlines flights. The placement of American’s code on LAN Ecuador flights will provide American’s customers seamless connecting service to three new cities in Ecuador not currently served by American.

At the same time, placing LAN Ecuador codes on American Airlines flights will offer LAN customers new destinations in the U.S. such as Atlanta, Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Charlotte, Denver, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Houston, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle/Tacoma.

American will codeshare on the following LAN Ecuador flights:

International flights between:

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport (GYE) in Guayaquil.

Miami International Airport (MIA) and Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport (GYE).

Miami International Airport (MIA) and Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) in Quito.

Domestic flights within Ecuador between the following destinations:

Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport (GYE) and Baltra Airport (GPS).

Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport (GYE) and Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO).

Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) and Baltra Airport (GPS).

Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) and Cuenca Airport (CUE).

Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport (GYE) and San Cristobal Airport (SCY).

LAN Ecuador will codeshare on the following American flights:

International flights between:

Miami International Airport (MIA) and Jose Joaquin de Olmedo Airport (GYE).

Miami International Airport (MIA) and Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO).

Connecting service between:

Miami International Airport (MIA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best.

American Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Boards of LAN and TAM agree to continue with the merger and aim for completion by the end of the first quarter 2012

LAN Airlines (Santiago) has issued the following statement concerning the proposed merger with TAM:

“After thorough analysis of the content and implications of the resolution of the Tribunal de Defensa de la Libre Competencia de Chile (TDLC), Chile’s antitrust court, regarding the merger process between LAN Airlines S.A. and TAM S.A., the Boards of Directors of both companies have confirmed their decision to move forward with the transaction.

LAN and TAM believe the mitigation measures imposed by the TDLC do not significantly impact the synergies generated by the transaction and do not modify in any material respect the companies’ joint strategic development plans. From the analysis, the estimated impact on the expected synergies would not exceed US$10 million per year, reducing by such amount the total previously announced synergies of US$400 million.

The mitigation measures considered in the judgment by the TDLC are broadly in line with the measures that LAN and TAM were prepared to accept in January 2011 in the out-of-court settlement negotiated with the Fiscalía Nacional Económica (FNE), Chile’s antitrust authority. Nevertheless, on October 3, LAN and TAM presented an appeal before the Supreme Court objecting three of the mitigation measures which the companies deem to be unconstitutional and disproportionately severe.

The three measures being appealed are:

1.- the seventh condition, which establishes the obligation to submit for approval ex – ante certain code share agreements that LATAM Group may have reached with airlines outside of its chosen alliance. This is unnecessary considering the existence of an alternative measure, which requires the company to inform the FNE of all such agreements so that it may analyze and determine if they are detrimental to the competitive environment;

2.- the eight condition, which establishes the obligation to give up four fifth freedom rights to Lima, Peru. This condition goes against a 2009 ruling of the Supreme Court, which overturned a previous ruling of the TDLC which attempted to impose measures that would have had the same impact; and

3.- the fourteenth condition, which provides excessive intrusive powers to the FNE and to the consultant that the TDLC requires the company to hire to collaborate in the surveillance process. The company considers that the proposed “unrestricted, total, permanent and continuous” access that this consultant would have, both in and outside of Chile, to LATAM Group’s data bases, systems, accounting, installations, offices, call centers and others, is unlimited and differs from what is provided for by law since it lacks previous judicial controls and is therefore illegal in that it affects constitutional rights.

In its appeals before the Supreme Court, it is highlighted that the seventh and fourteenth measures have legitimate legal and constitutional alternatives which are in accordance with the underlying spirit of the measures proposed by the TDLC.

LAN and TAM confirm their commitment to implement the merger in the shortest possible timeframe, which they expect to be towards the end of the first quarter 2012. It is important to highlight that LAN and TAM plan to move forward, in parallel with the Supreme Court appeal process, with the various regulatory and corporate authorizations that are still required to complete the transaction.”

LAN Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Alvaro Romero. Please click on the photo for additional information.

JetBlue Airways and LAN to offer interline connections

JetBlue Airways and LAN Airlines (Santiago) and its affiliates LAN Peru, LAN Argentina and LAN Ecuador, yesterday (March 8) announced the launch of interline agreements that bring new connecting options for travelers flying between major destinations throughout the Americas via New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Under the interline agreement, customers will be able to purchase a single electronic ticket that combines travel on JetBlue and any of the LAN carriers, bringing new options and new destinations to customers of both airlines.

Copyright Photo: Stephen Tornblom. Please click on the photo for additional information about this aircraft.

JetBlue Slide Show: CLICK HERE

LAN Airlines Route Map (The Americas). LAN Airlines already extensively interlines with American Airlines at the Miami hub.

LAN Airlines suspends operations in Ecuador due to political violence

LAN Airlines (Ecuador) (Quito) has suspended operations in Ecuador due to the current political violence.

Read the full report from Reuters:

CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf. Boeing 767-316 ER HC-CHA (msn 27613) is pictured on final approach at Miami.

LAN Airlines posts a first quarter net profit of $88.3 million

LAN Airlines (Santiago) reported net income of $88.3 million (US) for the first quarter 2010, an increase of 35.8% compared to the first quarter 2009, reflecting a strong recovery in both the cargo and passenger businesses.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman. Boeing 767-316 ER CC-CXK of LAN Airlines (Chile) arrives at New York (JFK).

LAN Ecuador starts domestic operations

LAN Airlines Ecuador (Quito) on April 6 commenced domestic operations. The first route was between Quito and Guayaquil with seven daily roundtrips using Airbus A318s. Cuenca and the Galapagos Islands will soon be added. The subsidiary of LAN Airlines (Santiago) started international operations on April 28, 2003.