LATAM Airlines Group has confirmed it’ll be a member of the oneworld airline alliance.
The decision, announced at a gathering of the oneworld governing board held in Hong Kong, means Brazil’s TAM Airlines will leave the Star Alliance to enroll in oneworld, together with its Paraguay subsidiary.
Their transition is anticipated to be completed during 2014’s second quarter.
LAN Colombia, the most recent portion of LAN, will join oneworld as an affiliate member, within the fourth quarter of 2013.
With Chile’s LAN Airlines flying as a whole member of oneworld since June 2000 and LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru added since as affiliate members, today’s announcement will bring all of Latin America’s top airline group into the identical global airline alliance.
It will take its place alongside 11 of any other leading carriers from world wide and 30 in their affiliates.
An exact date for TAM’s departure from the Star Alliance may be announced in the end.
The intention is for it to become portion of oneworld immediately after it exits Star.
oneworld governing board chairman Tom Horton said: “Membership of Latin America’s leading airline group, LATAM Airlines Group, in oneworld represents a huge landmark in our journey towards establishing oneworld firmly because the first choice airline alliance for travelers not only around the Americas, however the world over.