LAN, originally from Chile, and TAM, from Brazil will now become a single airline under the name LATAM, and will begin merging all their operations, with a 3-year goal of complete integration. The combined airline will continue membership in Star Alliance.
Since their 2010 corporate merger, the two airlines have continued operating as separate entities, but will now fold their loyalty programs, fleets and operations into what will be the largest airline in Latin America and 12th largest in the world. The combined airline will fly domestic routes in seven countries and serve 144 destinations in 26 countries.
LAN has had subsidiary operations in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru; these will also be under the LATAM umbrella. The new company logo features a sort of stylized South America together with the name; the name itself, a happy combination of the two lines, also suggests LATin AMerica.
