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What happened with Latam Airlines?

LATAM filed for Chapter 11 in 2020 after airline travel was hammered during the pandemic, and it won court approval that June.



LATAM Airlines has undergone a massive transformation over the last several years, most notably completing its Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring in late 2022. The airline, which is the largest in Latin America, was hit severely by the 2020 pandemic, forcing it to reorganize its debt and streamline its fleet. As part of this process, LATAM exited the "Oneworld" alliance and formed a deep strategic partnership with Delta Air Lines, which now owns a 20% stake in the company. In 2024 and 2025, the airline focused on "Project Sustainability," aiming to eliminate single-use plastics and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. By early 2026, LATAM has successfully rebounded, expanding its network to include more direct routes between South America and the United States/Europe through its "Joint Venture" with Delta. The airline also retired its older Airbus A350 fleet to focus on a more efficient mix of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A320neo aircraft. Today, LATAM is considered a financially stable and dominant force in the southern hemisphere, having successfully navigated one of the most difficult financial periods in aviation history to emerge as a leaner, more "tech-forward" carrier with a unified brand across its various South American subsidiaries.

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Currently, LATAM Chile and LATAM Brasil continue to work as separate companies, under LATAM Airlines Group acting as the executive management. LATAM Airlines Group is currently the largest airline corporation in Latin America.

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On 18 November 2022, the Airbus A320neo was taking off from Jorge Chávez International Airport when it collided with a fire engine that was crossing the runway, killing two firefighters and injuring a third, who died of his injuries seven months later.

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2021 Update LATAM Argentina has ceased operations, after LATAM made the decision to close its Argentinian branch. Please visit our LATAM Airlines page to discover what routes the airline and its subsidiaries are still operating.

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LATAM is Latin America's leading airline group, with presence in five domestic markets in South America: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, along with international operations within Latin America and to Europe, US and the Caribbean.

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It should also be noted that while LATAM, Aerolineas Argentinas, and Avianca—which are among the most popular airlines in South America—aren't classified as budget airlines, it's worth checking their fares out, as sometimes their prices can be competitive against these budget airlines.

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The Airbus A350 burns 25 per cent less fuel than most previous generation aircraft, so it generates less carbon dioxide. It is quieter too, so it's better for the environment in a number of ways.

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