LATAM Shuts Down Operations in Argentina Due to Coronavirus Crisis

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – LATAM Airlines announced the shutdown of its operations in Argentina due to the company’s current economic situation, compounded by the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The airline also stressed the difficulty in building structural agreements with the local industry, saying “it is not possible to envisage a viable and sustainable project in the long term.” Operations in Brazil will continue to operate as usual.

“This is regrettable but inevitable news. Today LATAM must focus on the group’s restructuring to adapt to post-Covid-19 aviation. Argentina has been and will always remain a key country. The other LATAM Group subsidiaries will continue to connect this country’s passengers with Latin America and the world,” said Roberto Alvo, the group’s CEO.

The news comes shortly after the company announced the bankruptcy of its subsidiaries in Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and the United States, also as a consequence of the crisis.

In Argentina, the group will no longer operate 12 domestic destinations, but the four international destinations, to the United States, Brazil, Chile, and Peru, will continue to be operated by the other group subsidiaries (as soon as the pandemic restrictions are lifted). The company has not announced which of the subsidiaries will take over the aforementioned routes.

Did you buy tickets from the company?

In a note, the group reported that LATAM Argentina will provide answers and alternatives to all passengers who purchased tickets from the company through its official channels.

The rules will comply with the following commercial policies:

For domestic routes: if tickets were purchased with a credit card, the company will automatically return the purchase amount within a period of 30 to 45 days to the same payment method. Otherwise, passengers must apply for a refund through latam.com/administratuviaje.

In the case of international routes: the flight date may be changed at no charge or rate difference but will be subject to cabin availability and ticket validity. Customers may also request that the amount be converted into a travel credit to be used by December 31st, 2021 on any LATAM group route.

For tickets issued using miles: customers may apply for a refund in points in their LATAM Pass account through latam.com and fees will be charged according to the same payment method used.

Source: InfoMoney