In order to know where we want to get, it is important to remember where we are from. Before coming together and forming Latin America’s largest airline we had a history full of pioneering spirit, challenges and achievements that brought us here.
Discover the most important milestones in our history.

1929     

• Commandant Arturo Merino Benítez creates LAN, Chile’s Línea Aérea Nacional.

1976

• Commandant Rolim Amaro establishes TAM, Brazil’s Transportes Aéreos Regionais.

1983

• Chile’s Corfo constitutes Línea Aérea Nacional – Chile Limitada.

1985     

• LAN becomes an public limited company.

1989

• Beginning of the privatization process. Chile’s government sells 51% of stakes to local investors and to Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS).

1990     

• Brasil Central changes its name to TAM - Transportes Aéreos Meridionais

1993

• TAM launches its TAM Fidelidade, the first frequent flyer program in Brazil.

1994

• LAN privatization reaches its peak: 98,7% of shares are acquired by the current controllers and other stakeholders.

1996     

• TAM purchases Lapsa airliner from Paraguay’s government, creating TAM Mercosur.

• Establishment of TAM Cargo.

1997

• LAN begins trading shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and becomes the first Latin American airline trading ADRs on this major stock exchange.

1998     

• Establishment of TAM Viagens.

• Arrival of the first A330 and completion of TAM’s first international flight from Sao Paulo to Miami.

1999

• Beginning of LAN Peru operations.

• TAM opens operations for Europe, through a codeshare agreement with Air France to Paris (Charles de Gaulle airport).

2000     

• LAN joins oneworld ®.

2001

• LAN opens a cargo terminal in Miami.

• TAM establishes the Services Academy and TAM MRO.

2003     

• Beginning of LAN Ecuador operations.

2004     

• Change in the corporate image: LAN Airlines S.A.

• TAM starts flying to Santiago, Chile.

• Launching of business class for flights in Paris (France) and Miami (USA).

2005

• Beginning of LAN Argentina operations.

• TAM S.A. IPO at Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa).             

• Launching of flights to New York (USA) and Buenos Aires (Argentina).

2006

• LAN launches its Premium Business category.

• TAM S.A. IPO at New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

• TAM Museum is inaugurated.

• Mock-up installation in TAM’s Services Academy, consolidating it as the largest and most modern aviation training center in Latin America.

• New flights to Frankfurt (Germany), Milan (Italy), Madrid (Spain) and Paris (France) via Rio de Janeiro.

2008

• LAN ends its short distances fleet renewal process; fleet is now formed by A320 airplanes.

• TAM launches its new logo.

• Arrival of TAM’s first Boeing 777-300ER.

2009     

• LAN lauches cargo operations in Colombia and domestic passengers operations in Ecuador.

• Multiplus Fidelidade becomes an independent company.

• TAM announces the acquisition of Pantanal Linhas Aereas.

2010

• LAN buys Colombian airline Aires.

• TAM officially joins Star Alliance.

• TAM successfully performs the first flight in Latin America with biofuel from jatropha.

2011     

• LAN and TAM sign tying arrangements related to the business combination between both companies.

2012

 • LATAM Airlines Group is born out of the joint operations of LAN and TAM.

2014     

• TAM joins oneworld® alliance. Now, all air passenger transportation LATAM Group companies are part of the same global alliance.

• LATAM Group develops a strong strategic plan for the following four years (2015-2018), with the goal of becoming one of the most important airlines groups in the world.

2015

• The new LATAM brand is officially launched, with new colors and a new logo.

2016

• In May, the new LATAM image begins to be implemented.