The LATAM Group and Aerolíneas Argentinas announced codeshare agreements between LATAM affiliates in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru, and the Argentine state airline.
According to the information provided, the joint commercialization will cover more than 140 destinations in the region. Specifically, it will include 55 destinations within Brazil, 37 in Argentina, 21 in Peru, 19 in Colombia, and 8 in Ecuador, as well as regional routes connecting Argentina with Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.
These maps show LATAM’s domestic networks in these countries:
LATAM Paraguay network (Cirium Schedule Mapper)
And the network operated by LATAM Paraguay:
These are the routes LATAM currently operates in Argentina:
On the other hand, this is Aerolíneas Argentinas’ domestic network:
The scope of the agreement excludes the Chilean affiliate of the LATAM Group, as clarified in the official statement. Sources close to the matter noted that this is due to restrictions imposed by competition authorities following the merger between LAN and TAM.
The agreements will also allow passengers of both airlines to earn and redeem miles or points through their frequent flyer programs, LATAM Pass and Aerolíneas Plus, encompassing 48 million LATAM members and over 4 million Aerolíneas Argentinas members.
A key point in this matter is that the loyalty program partnership is not limited to routes under the codeshare agreement but extends to all independently operated routes by both airlines. For example, a passenger flying between Lima and Miami with LATAM can choose to earn miles with their Aerolíneas Plus membership, and similarly, one traveling between Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro with Aerolíneas Argentinas can opt to earn miles with LATAM Pass.
«Travel options are being expanded for customers, reaching multiple destinations in Argentina and the region. These agreements provide greater benefits thanks to the extensive network of destinations offered by Aerolíneas Argentinas, which strengthens LATAM Group’s connectivity in the region,» stated Soledad Berrios, Director of Strategic Alliances for LATAM Group.
Leandro Serino, Manager of Network Planning, Schedules, and Alliances at Aerolíneas Argentinas, highlighted that «this agreement will allow us to strengthen our Aerolíneas Plus program and expand the range of destinations in the region for our passengers, as well as give LATAM customers the opportunity to take advantage of the full offering of Aerolíneas Argentinas’ domestic flights.»
The agreement, the two companies noted in a joint statement, also aims to facilitate a more seamless travel experience, particularly for passengers connecting between South American destinations. However, the codeshare agreements are subject to approval by the relevant regulatory authorities, and its implementation is expected in a few months.