Classic LAN Chile Livery Reappears on Boeing 737-200 at Santiago Airport
A former Mineral Airways 737-200 was spotted bearing the historic LAN Chile logos, rekindling memories of the former Chilean airline and sparking curiosity at Santiago Airport.
A Boeing 737-200, with a long and varied international and domestic history, was recently spotted at Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez Airport in Santiago, adorned with the historic LAN Chile typography and logo from the 1980s. Although it still bears the livery of its most recent operator, Mineral Airways (linked to Aerovías DAP), the return of this iconic branding has sparked immediate interest among aviation enthusiasts.
The aircraft is currently parked near the ENAER (Empresa Nacional de Aeronáutica de Chile) hangar, adjacent to LATAM Airlines’ maintenance facilities, in the area that once housed LAN’s corporate headquarters. It now carries the registration CC-ABDI, which does not appear in Chile’s Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) aircraft registry. The last known registration was CC-ABD, as seen in the following record:
This Boeing 737-200 was originally delivered to Southwest Air Lines in Japan as JA8475, a registration it retained when the company rebranded as Japan Transocean Air. It later operated in Brazil with VASP as PP-SFS, before moving on to LAN Perú (VP-BBP), LAN Chile, and LAN Express under the Chilean registration CC-CVJ. In its final commercial phase, it flew for Sky Airline and Mineral Airways as CC-ABD.
The reappearance of LAN Chile's classic logos comes at a symbolic moment. LAN turned 96 years old on March 5, though no official celebration was held. In recent years, LATAM Airlines has chosen to commemorate its anniversary based on the date of the LAN-TAM merger, placing less emphasis on the legacy of its founding airlines. The passenger fleet has already been completely repainted in LATAM’s modern branding, with the Boeing 787-9 CC-BGI being the last to receive the new livery. The only aircraft still flying in a previous color scheme is the N418LA freighter, which retains its LAN Cargo livery.
The reappearance of LAN Chile’s logos on this classic 737-200 raises the question: is this merely a historical restoration, or the early sign of a broader commemoration? With just four years to go until the centennial of the Línea Aeropostal de Chile, predecessor to the Línea Aérea Nacional, the question becomes increasingly relevant: Will LATAM Airlines pay tribute to its origins?
Airlines like KLM, Qantas, and Delta Air Lines have honored their 100th anniversaries with special liveries, commemorative events, and institutional recognitions. KLM painted a Boeing 787-10, Qantas still flies with a “100” logo, and Delta applied commemorative designs to two brand-new aircraft. In this context, and with the centennial approaching, the idea of seeing a LATAM aircraft in a retro livery or a nod to the past doesn’t seem far-fetched.
The question lingers: will the company speak about Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez, its founder? For now, the 737-200 bearing LAN Chile’s logos remains grounded, but it’s heavy with symbolism.
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